Biological launches Japanese Encephalitis vaccine JEEV in India

Austria’s Intercell AG (VSE: ICLL) that its partner, the Indian vaccines and pharma company Biological E Ltd, has launched JEEV, a vaccine to protect children and adults from Japanese Encephalitis (JE), in India. The vaccine, manufactured by Biological at its facility in Hyderabad and based on Intercell’s technology was approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).

“With the market launch in India we have taken a major step forward in achieving our goal of rolling-out this Japanese Encephalitis vaccine in endemic countries with a high medical need in order to protect children and adults against this terrible disease. Our strategic partnership with Biological E has made this possible. Now, we will continue to fight against this disease and collaborate on increasing market penetration in the endemic region,” states Thomas Lingelbach, chief executive of Intercell.

Japanese Encephalitis is endemic in Asia and Southeast Asia, a region with more than 3 billion inhabitants. In 2005, an epidemic outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis in Uttar Pradesh, India, and Nepal killed more than 1,200 children.