In a groundbreaking development, the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G) has transferred innovative vaccine technology to BioMed Pvt. Ltd., specializing in vaccine manufacturing. This pioneering technology focuses on combating the classical swine fever virus in pigs and wild boars, addressing a crucial gap in India’s vaccine landscape.
The newly transferred technology involves a recombinant vector vaccine, leveraging a reverse genetic platform developed at IIT-G. This breakthrough marks a significant milestone in India’s efforts to tackle swine fever, a highly contagious disease with a devastating impact on pig populations, although it does not pose a threat to humans.
Frequent reports of swine fever have been occurring in various regions of India, including the northeastern states, Bihar, Kerala, Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat. The transfer of vaccine technology is poised to bolster the nation’s capacity to mitigate the spread of this disease and protect livestock livelihoods.
The collaborative efforts between researchers from IIT-G’s Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering and the Assam Agricultural University in Guwahati laid the groundwork for this innovative vaccine. Their research findings, published in esteemed journals such as Process Biochemistry and Archives of Virology, underscore the scientific rigor and significance of this breakthrough.
This remarkable achievement exemplifies the potential of academia-industry collaboration in addressing pressing public health challenges and underscores IIT-G’s commitment to advancing scientific innovation for societal benefit.
