Zydus Cadila has entered into an agreement with WHO to explore a possible collaboration in the development of a cocktail for the treatment of rabies, through the use of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), the next-generation biologicals.

The therapy, if developed and commercialized, could bring a new approach in the fight against this fatal disease. Currently, there is no treatment for rabies once the symptoms of the disease have appeared. Post exposure prophylaxis for severe bites requires booth active immunization, using vaccines and passive immunization in the form of rabies immunoglobulins (RIG). These RIGs are derived from the blood serum and pose a problem in the treatment as they are often in short supply.

The agreement is a broad-based one which includes evaluation and prides a possible stepping-stone for the development and commercialization of the cocktail, to be used as an adjuvant therapy. The WHO will be providing monoclonal antibodies capable of neutralizing rabies virus and genetic sequences thereof, for evaluation at the Zydus Research Centre. The development and commercialization of the cocktail will inter alia be designed to achieve the wide availability of the cocktail to the public, including in particular its availability to the public sector of developing countries at a preferential price.

Pankaj R Patel, chairman and managing director of Zydus, said, "Any effort that is taken to fight rabies is a big step for mankind. We welcome this opportunity. This new therapy, if developed, holds much promise as it will address a critical need and will enable us to offer the complete range of rabies therapeutics at an affordable cost."

Currently, Zydus manufacturers and markets rabies vaccines - VaxiRab and Lyssavac N. The group has also developed a new cell culture vaccine which will be used for both intramuscular and intradermal vaccination.