What is Pneumosil, India’s 1st indigenously created pneumococcal vaccine?

Recently, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan launched the country’s first pneumococcal conjugate vaccine ”Pneumosil” developed by Serum Institute of India in collaboration with partners like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

India’s first indigenous pneumococcal conjugate vaccine ‘Pneumosil’ targets pneumococcal bacterium, which causes pneumonia and other serious life-threatening diseases such as meningitis and sepsis. Pneumococcal disease is a significant contributor under-five mortality rate worldwide.

SII CEO Adar Poonawalla said Pneumosil addresses the need for a more affordable option and will be available in single dose and multidose presentations.

According to NDTV, During clinical trials, Pneumosil was found to be safe and effective in the prevention of pneumonia and based on which Pneumosil has been licensed by the Drugs Controller General of India in July 2020 after approval from subject expert committee (SEC).

It will be available in the market at an affordable price in single dose (vial and prefilled syringe) and multidose (vial) presentations.

The vaccine also makes SII the world’s third supplier of PCVs under the pneumococcal Advance Market Commitment, and the first developing country vaccine manufacturer to access the global PCV market.