The Hyderabad based firm Biological E (BE), had launched its latest Inactivated Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine—Jeev. It is a liquid vaccine in 0.5ml vials and can be stored at normal temperatures. The cost per two doses of the vaccine is rated at Rs.985.

The newly developed vaccine is said to be India first indigenously developed inactivated cell cultured Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine. Unlike the existing live vaccines the inactivated vaccines are safer to administer.

Jeev is a second generation inactivated Japanese Encephalitis vaccine based on the SA 14-14-2 strain and does not contain any gelatin stabilizer or Thiomersal and the vaccine’s safety and efficacy has been established through multiple studies on Indian subjects and is licensed by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI).

Biological E had initiated its work on this vaccine seven years ago. With its own in-house R&D effort and with the support from its technology partner, Intercell AG of Austria, the company had successfully launched its latest inactive vaccine Jeev. Intercell’s vaccine against Japanese encephalitis, which formed the basis for the technology transfer to BE, is licensed by US FDA, EMA and multiple countries like Australia, Canada, and Switzerland etc.

Before its launch, the vaccine had undergone various phases of clinical trials and laboratory tests and has been approved by leading drug regulatory authorities in India and abroad.

With this new launch, it is expected that now Jeev will provide a safer way to prevent the deadly Japanese Encephalitis. Japanese Encephalitis is a deadly viral disease afflicting major areas around the world and is the leading cause of Acute Encephalitic Syndrome (AES). JE is a disease that affects the brain and has a high morality and morbidity rate. The disease is endemic in about 170 districts in 19 states in the country.

The only other Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine currently available in India is an imported live attenuated vaccine.

“The launch of Jeev marks a significant milestone in BE’s journey as well as the Indian vaccine industry. This vaccine has an excellent safety profile and proven efficacy in Indian subjects. Now doctors can avail this to prevent Japanese Encephalitis in children and adults,” said Dr Vijay Kumar Datla, chairman and managing director of Biological E.

“We have our new facility developed at Shamirpet six years ago and it has a capacity of more than 200 million doses per year. We are already developing various vaccines for diphtheria, hepatitis B, vericella and rotavirous. Out of 10 million doses we produce at present, two million doses are supplied to domestic market. Overall we had spent Rs.100 crore on all these vaccines out of which about we must have spent 15 to 20 per cent to develop Jeev,” informed Mahima Datla, Sr. VP – Operations, BE.