Cabinet Renews BIRAC-CEPI Research Partnerships, Expands Scope to Monoclonal Antibodies

Key facts

• The Union Cabinet has renewed the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) Engagement Strategy with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).
• The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), had partnered with CEPI in October 2019, to advance vaccine development for diseases of epidemic potential.
• The partnership recorded progress in early-stage development of vaccine candidates for Chikungunya, Coronavirus and Monkey pox.
• Under the strategy, BIRAC’s bioassay laboratory and experimental animal facility supported the development of several Indian and global vaccine candidates at different stages, from pre-clinical to phase-3 efficacy trials.
• Training programmes on vaccine development and clinical trials have been organized, contributing to capacity building in the domain.
• The latest renewal further broadens the strategy scope to the development of allied technologies, particularly monoclonal antibodies.
• Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are lab-made proteins that mimic the body's natural immune response to target specific cells or antigens.
• CEPI is an innovative partnership between public, private, philanthropic and civil organisations which supports the development of vaccines and associated technologies against emerging infectious diseases.
• Several national governments, the European Commission, and philanthropic organisations, such as Gates Foundation and Welcome Trust, are involved with CEPI.