Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and Bangladesh-based Incepta Pharmaceuticals have announced a collaboration to bring life-saving innovation to the global healthcare landscape.
The non-exclusive licensing agreement is focused on reducing the impact of rotavirus, the most common cause of severe diarrhoea in infants and young children worldwide.
RV3-BB, adapted and developed from a naturally occurring human strain of rotavirus discovered in Melbourne by Professor Ruth Bishop AC and colleagues in the early 1980s, offers early protection against dehydrating diarrhoea from birth.
The RV3-BB vaccine, intended for neonatal or infant dosing schedules as part of routine Expanded Program on Immunization vaccinations, has the potential to save hundreds of thousands of children's lives annually.
In Bangladesh, where more than two million babies are born yearly, the impact of RV3-BB could be profound. Globally, rotavirus claims the lives of about 450,000 children under five annually.
MCRI's Professor Andrew Steer, the director of infection, immunity and global health, said, "This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our mission to protect vulnerable children from the effects of rotavirus infection. By joining forces with Incepta Pharmaceuticals, we are poised to make RV3-BB readily available to communities in need worldwide.
"MCRI's relentless pursuit of accessible and scalable vaccine solutions underscores our commitment to global health equity."
Abdul Muktadir, the chairman and managing director of Incepta Pharmaceuticals, said, "We are proud to partner with MCRI in this groundbreaking endeavour. Together, we are committed to leveraging our expertise and resources to ensure that rotavirus vaccine (RV3-BB) reaches the millions of children who need it most, safeguarding the health of future generations."
