Oral cholera vaccine Shanchol: Shanchol, the made-in-India oral cholera vaccine originally developed by Shantha Biotechnics, has regained World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification, clearing the way for procurement by global agencies including UNICEF, Gavi and PAHO, the company said, The Hindu reported.
Production of Shanchol, paused under the vaccine’s former ownership, has resumed under GCBC Vaccines, part of the Gland Family Office, which in April 2024 acquired Shantha’s manufacturing facilities at Medchal and Muppireddypally near Hyderabad from Sanofi. WHO conducted an on-site inspection and transferred the prequalification following the restart, GCBC Vaccines said.
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“By resuming production of Shanchol, we are bringing the same rigour and reliability to ensure this life-saving vaccine remains available worldwide,” said Ravi Penmetsa, managing director, GCBC Vaccines. Over the years, nearly 40 million doses of Shanchol have been supplied globally through UNICEF-led campaigns.
The company said Shanchol is the only oral cholera vaccine manufactured in India with WHO prequalification, underscoring India’s role in sustaining global supply. K.I. Varaprasad Reddy, founder of Shantha Biotechnics, said the renewed WHO status “carries forward the founding mission” to provide an affordable, accessible vaccine for countries facing recurrent outbreaks.
Vishy Chebrol, executive director at GCBC Vaccines, said the firm is focused on reliable, affordable supply to countries with the greatest need and is advancing other affordable, innovative vaccines in its pipeline.
Shanchol is a bivalent, killed whole-cell oral cholera vaccine targeting Vibrio cholerae O1 and O139. With WHO prequalification in place, GCBC Vaccines said the product will continue to be supplied at scale to meet international and country-level immunisation needs.
