TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE CONTEXT: The Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd (SII) has taken a significant step by joining the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) manufacturing network.
EXPLANATION:
- This strategic collaboration aims to enhance vaccine production capabilities in the Global South, fostering a more rapid and equitable response to future disease outbreaks.
CEPI’s Global Manufacturing Network Expansion
- CEPI’s initiative to expand the global footprint of vaccine production gains momentum with the inclusion of SII.
- This network specifically targets vaccine producers in the Global South, focusing on regions at high risk of outbreaks caused by deadly viral threats such as Lassa Fever, Nipah, Disease X, and other prioritized pathogens.
- SII’s integration into the CEPI network is seen as a pivotal move towards achieving the ambitious 100 Days Mission.
- This mission aims to develop new vaccines against known or novel infectious diseases within three months of recognizing a pandemic threat.
- SII’s participation is expected to bolster vaccine production efforts in the Global South, contributing to the mission’s success.
CEPI’s Investment in SII
- Recognizing SII’s proven track record in responding rapidly to infectious disease outbreaks, CEPI is investing up to $30 million to augment SII’s capabilities.
- This investment is geared towards expanding SII’s ability to swiftly supply investigational vaccines during epidemic and pandemic threats.
- The goal is to enable seamless technology transfer from CEPI-backed vaccine developers to SII, ensuring the rapid and equitable distribution of affordable vaccines to affected populations.
- CEO of CEPI underscores the critical role that SII’s world-renowned manufacturing and rapid response capabilities will play in facilitating swift and equitable access to outbreak vaccines.
- In an era marked by heightened epidemic and pandemic risk, the collaboration with SII is deemed essential to preventing potential health crises and avoiding a recurrence of events akin to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- CEO of the Serum Institute of India expresses SII’s commitment to leveraging its manufacturing and rapid response capabilities to strengthen epidemic preparedness.
- The collaboration aims to enhance access to life-saving vaccines, particularly in Global South countries where such access may be limited.
- The importance of responding rapidly and equitably to public health outbreaks, aligning with the broader goal of enhancing global health security have been emphasized.
Future Collaborative Endeavors
- With CEPI’s financial support, SII will not only contribute to vaccine production but also actively support the development, stockpiling, and licensure of new vaccines targeting CEPI’s priority pathogens.
- The ongoing collaboration between CEPI and SII underscores the joint commitment to advancing vaccine research, production, and accessibility on a global scale.
Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd (SII):
- Serum Institute of India was founded in 1966 by Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla with the aim of manufacturing life-saving immuno-biologicals, which were in shortage in the country and imported at high prices.
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. is the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by number of doses produced and sold globally (more than 1.5 billion doses).
- It includes Polio vaccine, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hib, BCG, r-Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella as well as Pneumococcal and Covid-19 vaccines.
- It is estimated that about 65% of the children in the world receive at least one vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute.
- Vaccines manufactured by the Serum Institute are accredited by the World Health Organization, Geneva and are being used in around 170 countries across the globe in their national immunization programs, saving millions of lives throughout the world.
- Serum Institute of India is ranked as India’s No. 1 biotechnology company, manufacturing highly specialized life saving biologicals like vaccines using cutting edge genetic and cell-based technologies, antisera and other medical specialties.
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI):
- CEPI is a global partnership launched in 2017 to develop vaccines to stop future epidemics.
- CEPI was founded in Davos (Switzerland) by the governments of Norway and India, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, and the World Economic Forum.
- The Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, and Government of India has been implementing the IndCEPI mission ‘India Centric Epidemic Preparedness through Rapid Vaccine Development: Supporting Indian Vaccine Development’.
- The objectives of this mission are aligned with that of CEPI and aims to strengthen the development of vaccines and associated competencies/technologies for the diseases of epidemic potential in India.