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Serum Institute of India Repurposes COVID Facilities to Boost Vaccine Manufacturing for Malaria and Dengue
In a strategic move aimed at combating diseases beyond COVID-19, the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine maker, has repurposed its manufacturing facilities used for COVID-19 immunizations to bolster the production of shots targeting diseases like malaria and dengue.
CEO Adar Poonawalla revealed in an interview that the company has redirected resources and scaled back COVID manufacturing as demand wanes, pivoting instead to manufacture newer vaccines. Poonawalla estimates that this shift will increase total production by a substantial two and a half billion doses.
Renowned for producing AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine under the brand name Covishield in India, and Novavax’s protein-based COVID shots, the Serum Institute had previously invested a staggering $2 billion during the peak of the global health crisis to enhance production capacity.
Currently, the company sells approximately 1.5 billion vaccine doses annually, with a potential production capacity of up to 4 billion doses. Poonawalla emphasized the significance of this expanded capacity, highlighting the potential to vaccinate the entirety of India within a mere three to four months in the event of future pandemics.
Moreover, Serum Institute is engaging in discussions with various countries and governments to leverage its facilities in response to potential outbreaks, though details remain undisclosed at this time.
Poonawalla underscored Serum’s commitment to addressing pressing global health challenges by focusing on exporting vaccines, particularly the malaria shot, to other nations rather than entering into technology transfer agreements.
Regarding the malaria vaccine, Serum has already manufactured 25 million doses in anticipation of an impending launch. With malaria continuing to claim over half a million lives annually, primarily among young children in sub-Saharan Africa, the need for effective prevention measures remains urgent.
In addition to the malaria vaccine, Serum is advancing its efforts against dengue, a mosquito-borne disease notorious for its debilitating impact. The company is conducting early- to mid-stage trials in India for a single-dose dengue vaccine, leveraging research from the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Poonawalla anticipates completing late-stage trials within the next three years.
While Serum forges ahead in its vaccine development endeavors, other players in the field, such as Takeda Pharmaceutical of Japan and Indian Immunologicals, are also actively engaged in addressing the dengue menace.
With Serum Institute’s proactive measures to expand vaccine manufacturing capabilities and tackle diseases beyond COVID-19, the global health community anticipates significant strides in combating malaria, dengue, and other pressing health challenges in the years ahead.
