The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), under the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, is steadily progressing towards the development of an improved vaccine against Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD). Kyasanur Forest Disease is an important regional infectious disease in the Western Ghats region, in states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, and Maharashtra.

On request of the government of the state of Karnataka, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) embarked on the development of KFD vaccine. Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) and ICMR–National Institute of Virology (NIV) are working collaboratively to develop a fully indigenous two dose adjuvanted inactivated vaccine which will be given 28 days apart.

The vaccine has been successfully developed, and animal challenge and toxicity studies have been completed. GLP-grade vaccine material has been manufactured, and a Phase I human clinical trial has been initiated following approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).

If the Phase I trial is successful, further clinical trials will be initiated and if the vaccine is found to be safe and immunogenic, approval of CDSCO will be sought.

The Government of India is committed to provide continued support to the State governments in solving difficult health problems.

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SR/GS

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