$4 Million Awarded to Bharat Biotech For New Vaccine

$4 million Strategic Translation Award by The Wellcome Trust for clinical development of a new vaccine against a deadly infectious disease usual in sub-Saharan Africa was rewarded to Bharat Biotech and the University of Maryland Center for Vaccine Development (CVD). The news was heralded on Monday. The vaccine, whose initial clinical trials will begin in three years, is aimed at preventing the invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS).

NTS have emerged as an important cause of invasive bloodstream infection in sub-Saharan Africa, among young children with malaria and malnutrition, and among adults with HIV, said a statement by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech.

Strains of NTS that can cause systemic disease such as meningitis or sepsis are particularly common in sub-Saharan Africa. Approximately 20 to 30 percent of children with infections die.

"The CVD NTS project is a testimony of our belief in collaborative research and our commitment to introduce highly effective and affordable vaccines to solve region- specific neglected diseases in the developing world," said Krishna Ella, Chairman and Managing Director Bharat Biotech.

"This is a collaboration to bring forth a potentially life-saving vaccine for a very underserved population," said Professor Myron Levine, Director,CVD.

Source-IANS