HYDERABAD: Biological E Limited (BE), the Hyderabad-based vaccine maker that has developed a recombinant sub-unit protein vaccine Corbevax for Covid-19, has now been selected as a recipient of mRNA technology from the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s technology transfer hub.
BE was selected by WHO’s Advisory Committee on Vaccine Product Development (ACPDV) as a recipient of mRNA technology from the WHO technology transfer hub after examining a number of proposals from India, WHO said in a statement.
With this, WHO and its partners will work with the Indian government and BE to develop a roadmap and put in place the necessary training and support to the Hyderabad-based player to start producing mRNA vaccines as soon as possible.
“Primarily set up to address the Covid-19 emergency, the hub has the potential to expand manufacturing capacity for other products as well, including treatments, and target other priorities such as malaria, HIV and cancer,” WHO said.
The mRNA vaccines use a messenger RNA created in a laboratory to teach human cells how to produce a protein, which in turn initiates an immune response inside the body against a particular disease. The immune response will fight the actual virus as it gets into the body.
Terming the development as a remarkable milestone in the company’s efforts to produce affordable vaccines for the world, Biological E Ltd managing director Mahima Datla said BE has been investing in mRNA technologies since last year.
“We are very pleased with the trust that WHO places in our organisation, which adheres to the standards set by the WHO. This is also a reflection of our world-class processes, scale and effectiveness. This new technology will definitely strengthen our resolve to develop and manufacture more vaccines in future,” she said. “This partnership with WHO will enhance our ability to develop next generation mRNA vaccines that could be more suitable globally and expand the reach of vaccines availability worldwide,” she added.
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