Cadila Pharma develops novel three-dose rabies vaccine Thrabis

The recombinant nanoparticle-based rabies G protein vaccine is prepared by using Virus-Like Particle technology.

Ahmedabad, 8^th April 2022: In an important breakthrough, Ahmedabad-based Cadila Pharmaceuticals has developed a novel three-dose recombinant nano-particle based rabies G protein vaccine. The novel vaccine is set to be launched within the next ** months.

The vaccine – Thrabis® – is prepared by using Virus-Like Particle technology (VLP). The VLPs self-assemble from this recombinant G protein which is produced from genes cloned into baculovirus expression vectors and expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells. The vaccine generates antibodies against rabies G protein, which leads to virus neutralisation, as well as prevents virus attachment to the cell to confer protection against rabies.

Cadila Pharmaceuticals successfully tested immunogenicity and safety of three doses, i.e. 50 µg (microgram) on days 0, 3 and 7 of the novel vaccine in Phase-I/II and Phase-III clinical trials in healthy volunteers as well as preclinical models. The safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine were established in the trials.

As per the World Health Organization, the existing approved rabies vaccine regimens require 14 to 28 days to complete with at least four visits to the doctor. Many animal bite victims are unable to complete the full course of the vaccine due to their high cost, potential loss of income due to frequent visits to the doctor, or due to other reasons, leaving them unprotected and susceptible to fatal clinical rabies.

“Thrabis is a breakthrough vaccine that can help in preventing many rabies deaths. Unlike other approved rabies vaccines, Thrabis is a three-dose vaccine and is administered within a week. This helps in reducing the long duration postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), and maintaining immunogenicity and clinical effectiveness, besides improving compliance to complete the vaccine course,” said *** of Cadila Pharmaceuticals.

Besides being convenient, Thrabis is an intramuscular vaccine and less painful for the recipients. It is also extremely convenient for doctors as it is a ready to use vaccine without the need for any solvent.

It is estimated that rabies infection causes 59,000 deaths every year, mainly in Asia and Africa. Over 20,000 people die in India alone, mainly because many animal bite victims exposed to rabies do not complete the full course of the vaccine.