The Ahmedabad-based Zydus Cadila has launched a highly purified duck embryo rabies vaccine under the brand name 'Vaxirab'. The vaccine is manufactured in technical collaboration with Berna Biotech of Berne, Switzerland, one of the leading vaccine manufactures in Europe and the originators of this vaccine. The international brand of this vaccine 'Lyssavac N Berna' was first registered in Switzerland in 1985 and is currently available in 30 countries across the world.
Rabies also known as hydrophobia is an acute and highly fatal viral disease of the central nervous system. Transmitted to humans through rabid animals, it causes around 75,000 deaths every year globally. Out of this, 35,000 deaths reported in India alone. As per the WHO reports, three million cases of dog bites are reported in India each year. However, as there are several cases, which go unreported, the figure might be as high as six million cases.
The incubation period of the virus, which causes rabies is highly variable and may vary from four days to many weeks. Hence it is most important that the person with a dog bite is administered the vaccine as quickly as possible.
The purified duck embryo rabies vaccine, which is a new generation rabies vaccine approved by the WHO, offers faster action and quicker protection making it ideal for those dog bite cases where the incubation period is lesser.
The clinical trials of Vaxirab were conducted at Haffkine's Institute at Mumbai in which very high protective antibody levels were demonstrated in both healthy volunteers and patients with animal bites and no adverse effects were reported in any of the subjects. Unlike other rabies vaccines available in India, Vaxirab does not required any artificial media for propagation of the rabies virus, making it safe with no allergic reactions.
According to the company sources, 'Vaxirab' is also easy to administer and has minimal risk of contamination as it is packaged with a pre-filled syringe containing 1 m diluent and a vial of lyophilized vaccine for a single dose. The vaccine is priced at Rs. 294/- exclusive of taxes.