Central Research Institute opens cGMP-compliant vaccine facility in HP

Central Research Institute (CRI) has opened the first of its kind current good manufacturing practise (cGMP) compliant facility within the central government for manufacturing DPT and TT vaccine at its Kasauli centre in Himachal Pradesh. The facility was inaugurated by J P Nadda, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, on April 24, 2016.
 
Nadda noted that recent advancements in regulatory requirements and introduction of cGMP concept in vaccine manufacturing led to the need for creation of cGMP compliant infrastructure and processes. TT vaccine has been commercialised from this facility for Universal Immunization Programme use and production of DPT bulk has been initiated, he added. “As it is essential for vaccine manufacturers to have global quality standards, CRI is exploring the feasibility of establishing WHO prequalified cGMP compliant manufacturing facility for yellow fever vaccine. This will enable the institute to supply yellow fever vaccine to African and Latin American countries,” he said.
   
CRI, one of the few pioneer institutions in the field of vaccine manufacturing, has plans to manufacture all vaccines, viz, Japanese encephalitis vaccine, rabies vaccine and typhoid vaccine, which were earlier manufactured in the institute, after establishing cGMP compliant facilities and application of recent technological advancements, he informed. CRI plans to create fully dedicated cGMP compliant laboratory for research on vaccine development and various other public health related issues. The institute aims to undertake research on newer vaccine candidates for existing and emerging diseases and to manufacture more efficacious and safer vaccines as also to contribute to the prevention of spread of novel antigenic variants.
 
In addition, as part of its expansion plans, CRI is in process of acquiring about 51 acres of land from Himachal Pradesh Government for creation of cGMP compliant facility for manufacturing of therapeutic anti-sera. This initiative will increase the production capacity of the institute to cater to the ever increasing demand of these lifesaving anti-sera.