Hope for Japanese encephalitis: Intercell partners with Biological E to launch vaccine
Bangalore: Intercell has partnered with Biological E to launch JEEV, a vaccine designed to protect children and adults from Japanese encephalitis (JE) in India. The vaccine, manufactured by Biological E at its facility in Hyderabad and based on Intercell's technology was approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).
"With the market launch in India we have taken a major step forward in achieving our goal of rolling-out this Japanese encephalitis vaccine in endemic countries with a high medical need in order to protect children and adults against this terrible disease. Our strategic partnership with Biological E has made this possible. Now, we will continue to fight against this disease and collaborate on increasing market penetration in the endemic region", states Mr Thomas Lingelbach, CEO, Intercell.
Japanese encephalitis is endemic in Asia and South East Asia, a region with more than three billion inhabitants. In 2005, an epidemic outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis in Uttar Pradesh, India, and Nepal killed more than 1,200 children.
Biological E plans to focus its sales efforts of JEEV initially on private market customers including pediatricians and general practitioners. To ensure a successful product launch, Biological E. has recruited and trained its own sales force, which will initially be fully dedicated to the product.
According to the product label, the initial approval age groups of the vaccine are children (aged between one and three years of age) and adults (aged between 18 and 49 years of age). First deliveries of JEEV are planned between mid-September and beginning of October, with full scale commercial manufacturing commencing shortly thereafter.
