Bharat Biotech's oral cholera vaccine Hillchol demonstrates success in Phase III
against both Ogawa and Inaba serotypes, proving non-inferior in healthy Indian adults and
children, supporting its potential as an effective OCV.
The study findings have been published in the ScienceDirect, Vaccine journal 126998 to assess
a double-blind, randomized phase III clinical trial to evaluate safety, immunogenicity, non-inferiority
& lot-to-lot consistency of single component oral cholera vaccine Hillchol in comparison to a comparator vaccine in a diverse participant group of 1,800 individuals, from infants to adults, across 10 clinical sites in India, Hyderabad based Vaccine maker said in a release here on Wednesday.
In this study, participants were divided into three age groups: adults over 18 years, children aged 5
to under 18 years, and infants aged 1 to under 5 years.
They were randomized in a 3:1 ratio to receive either Hillchol or a comparator vaccine.
The primary endpoint focused on the proportion of participants achieving >4-fold increase in vibriocidal antibody titres against Ogawa and Inaba serotypes 14 days after two doses. While secondary endpoints included Geometric Mean Titre (GMT) measurements and safety.
Key highlights from the findings are that Hillchol demonstrated a greater than 4-fold rise in vibriocidal antibodies against both Ogawa (68.3%) and Inaba (69.5%) serotypes, proving non-inferiority to licensed vaccines.
Adverse events were mild and comparable between the two vaccines. The vaccine was well-tolerated and immunogenic across all age groups—including infants (≥1 year), children, and adults.
Dr. Krishna Ella, Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech, said, " T his publication reaffirms our commitment to advancing vaccines built on rigorous research, thorough clinical trials, and reliable clinical data."
'Cholera is a vaccine-preventable disease that has faced a surge in outbreaks along with a huge shortage of vaccines. The new generation Oral Cholera Vaccine Hillchol, featuring a simplified single stable O1 Hikojima strain, inducing robust antibodies against both Ogawa and Inaba serotypes, aims to enhance production efficiency and affordability, particularly in lower- and middle-income countries where waterborne diseases continue to pose serious health threats," Dr Ella added.
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae bacteria.
Studies have estimated that 2.86 million cases and 95,000 deaths occur annually.
With Hillchol, Bharat Biotech strengthens its commitment to combating global infectious diseases through innovation and clinical excellence.
As cholera continues to threaten communities lacking clean water and sanitation, Hillchol provides
a streamlined, scalable solution designed to support global health programs and ensure equitable access to life-saving vaccines.
Global demand for OCVs is close to 100 million doses a year, and given that only one manufacturer supplies them, there is a global shortage. Bharat Biotech's facilities in Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar have a capacity to produce up to 200 million doses of Hillchol.
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