The Pune-based Serum Institute of India may launch a pentavalent vaccine involving DTP, Hepatitis B and Haemophilius B (HIB) within two years. The company has already started clinical trials for a quadruple vaccine involving DTP and Hepatitis B.

Talking to Pharmabiz, Adar Poonawalla, trustee of Serum Institute of India Research Foundation, said research work was progressing as per schedule to launch the first of its kind pentavalent vaccine in the country. At present, only a few minor players in the European market have a similar vaccine, which have a huge global market.

He said the quadruple vaccine combining the DTP and Hepatitis B would be launched in the country within a year. Clinical trials for the vaccine are being carried out in Delhi and Mumbai among 400 people. "Unlike the pharmaceuticals, launch of vaccines may take some time as it requires some fine tuning and various levels of clinical and animal trials. We are hopeful of launching the quadruple vaccine within the next twelve months and the pentavalent vaccine within two years" said Poonawalla.

He also revealed that the Serum Institute was working on a unique Meningitis A vaccine, mainly aimed at the African continent. "Serum Institute hopes to launch unique Meningitis A vaccine in the African market within the next four years. It will be launched mainly in Africa and for a small population in India, as meningitis is mainly prevalent in the African continent," said Adar.

He also said the Serum Institute was gearing up to have a national launch of its anti-rabies vaccine, soft launched in the Kerala market in September 2003. "That was soft launched in the Kerala market to keep a few orders as per a commitment to the government there. We are in the process of building up some stocks of the vaccine, and hopes to have a national launch within the next six months" he added. This modern liquid vaccine is developed from human diploid cells with a dosage level of five administrations, instead of the normal vaccines, which uses rabbit or sheep brain as a substrate.

He said the vaccine would be priced competitively, and possibly less than Rs.300, but slightly higher than the prices of the competitors for its advantages.