SII Takes Lead In Mpox Battle: Vaccine Development Underway
Mpox: Pune Sets Up 10-Bed Isolation Ward at Naidu Hospital, Screens Thousands at Airport
Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla announced that the company is working on a vaccine against Mpox, hoping for a “positive outcome” within a year’s time. “In view of the global health emergency declared due to the Mpox outbreak, SII is working on developing a vaccine for this disease to cater to millions of lives that might be at risk. Hopefully, we will have more updates and positive news to share within a year’s time,” Poonawalla said.
The Government of India has released guidelines for isolating suspected Mpox cases, with the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune tasked with testing samples. Dr. Pragya Yadav, a scientist with the NIV, said, “We’ve been testing Mpox samples since 2022. But this time, due to the new lineage of Mpox, there are concerns. Samples have been coming in continuously but, so far, we haven’t had a positive.”
Experts are concerned about the new lineage, CLADE 1B, which can also spread sexually. Dr. Raman Gangakhedkar, Director in charge of the National AIDS Research Institute, said, “Mpox usually spreads only through close contact with an infected person, via bodily fluids and sores. But this new lineage also spreads sexually, so as an HIV-AIDS expert, that concerns me. People may hide their infection once these skin lesions develop.”
Gangakhedkar added, “The vaccines currently available have shown an efficacy of about 80% so they are effective. But the live attenuated vaccine/s may turn out to be better for administering vulnerable persons. Mass vaccination will not be required as a strategy. If we do need to start vaccinating, we may have to prioritize those who have multiple sexual partners.”
Meanwhile, Danish company Bavarian Nordic is shipping 200,000 doses of its monkeypox jab to African nations, but at least 10 million doses may be needed to halt the outbreak. As Dr. Gangakhedkar noted, “Monkeypox usually spreads only through close contact with an infected person, via bodily fluids and sores. But this new lineage also spreads sexually, so as an HIV-AIDS expert, that concerns me. People may hide their infection once these skin lesions develop.”
