The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has called for proposals from private companies and manufacturers to collaborate on developing and commercializing a vaccine for typhoid and paratyphoid.
In an official statement, ICMR invited Expressions of Interest (EoI) from eligible organizations, companies, and manufacturers to jointly develop and bring to market a vaccine targeting typhoid and paratyphoid infections. The initiative seeks industry partners to validate the vaccine technology developed at ICMR’s National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections (NIRBI) in Kolkata and ensure compliance with regulatory standards while advancing the vaccine’s production.
Selected companies will also be responsible for the commercialization and marketing of the vaccine. According to ICMR, researchers at ICMR-NIRBI have devised a promising vaccine approach utilizing outer membrane structures of typhoid-causing bacteria, including Salmonella Typhi, Salmonella Paratyphi, and Salmonella Typhimurium.
Shortlisted manufacturers will be chosen based on their research and development capabilities, infrastructure, and expertise. Once selected, they will be required to pay a royalty of 2% on net sales, as per ICMR’s guidelines for technology development partnerships. Additionally, ICMR will provide expert technical support throughout the vaccine production process.
Typhoid fever, a severe illness caused by Salmonella Typhi, has been on the rise in India. A recent study conducted by researchers from Christian Medical College, Vellore, in collaboration with ICMR, found that the country recorded approximately 10 million cases of typhoid fever in 2021—one of the highest in the world.
Vaccination remains a crucial preventive measure against typhoid. While India already has an indigenous Vi‐TT conjugate vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), the development of a new vaccine could further enhance treatment options and help alleviate the country’s growing typhoid burden.
