Karachi: Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) has announced a significant development in public health with the creation of Pakistan’s first indigenous human anti-rabies vaccine. This vaccine, which is purified, inactivated, and lyophilized, has been formulated from a rabies virus strain isolated locally, marking a crucial advancement in the country’s efforts to combat rabies.

The project, spearheaded by Meritorious Professor Mohammed Saeed Quraishy, Vice Chancellor of DUHS, and Principal Investigator Dr. Talat Roome, was conducted at the Dow Institute for Advanced Biological and Animal Research. It received funding from the Grand Challenge Fund under the Higher Education Development in Pakistan project. This initiative is supported by the World Bank and implemented by the Higher Education Commission.

Following its success at the lab scale, the project will move forward to manufacture clinical trial batches for approval by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan. This step is essential in transitioning towards national production and usage of the vaccine.

The development of the vaccine was made possible through collaboration with national partners, including the Bio-Resources Center at DESTO, Sindh Institute of Animal Health, and the Center for Bioequivalence Studies and Clinical Research at the University of Karachi. Each institution played a pivotal role in this breakthrough.

The scientists and technical staff at DIABAR have been commended for their dedication, which has set a benchmark in the fight against rabies in Pakistan. Their work is seen as a reflection of resilience, innovation, and hope within the nation’s healthcare system.