ICMR moves forward with indigenous vaccine for Kyasanur Forest Disease

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has made significant progress in developing an improved vaccine to combat Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), a tick-borne viral infection that continues to pose public health challenges in parts of the Western Ghats.

KFD is a region-specific disease affecting several states, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, and Maharashtra. In response to a request from the Karnataka government, ICMR initiated efforts to develop a more effective and reliable vaccine to strengthen disease prevention in vulnerable areas.

The vaccine development programme is being carried out jointly by Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) and the ICMR–National Institute of Virology (NIV). The collaboration is focused on creating a fully indigenous, two-dose, adjuvanted inactivated vaccine, with the doses administered 28 days apart.

According to ICMR, the vaccine has already been successfully developed, and key preclinical milestones have been achieved. Animal challenge and toxicity studies have been completed, indicating promising safety outcomes. In addition, GLP-grade vaccine material has been manufactured to support further evaluation.

Following approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), a Phase I clinical trial involving human volunteers has now commenced. This initial trial phase will assess the vaccine’s safety profile and its ability to generate an immune response.

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Subject to positive results from Phase I, the vaccine will move into subsequent stages of clinical testing. If later trials confirm its safety and immunogenicity, regulatory approval will be sought from CDSCO for wider use.

The initiative reflects the Government of India’s continued commitment to supporting state governments in addressing complex public health challenges through indigenous research, innovation, and collaboration.