Zydus Lifesciences has announced its plans to develop the world’s first combination vaccine targeting both typhoid fever and shigellosis, with financial support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The project is set to kick off this month.
At 1.45 pm today, the shares of Zydus Lifesciences Limited were trading flat at ₹870.90 on the NSE.
The aim of the vaccine is to protect children under five years old against two deadly enteric diseases in areas where both are prevalent. Zydus will be utilizing its WHO-prequalified Typhoid conjugate vaccine (ZyVac TCV) and will be collaborating with an undisclosed partner who will provide the shigella vaccine component.
Dr. Sharvil Patel, Managing Director of Zydus Lifesciences, stated, “By collaborating with key partners and leveraging our research capabilities, we can bridge unmet needs through high-quality, affordable vaccines.”
The Country Director for the Gates Foundation, Sh. M Hari Menon, expressed excitement about the initiative, highlighting its potential to significantly contribute to protecting children globally.
The development of this combination vaccine comes at a time when childhood immunization schedules are becoming increasingly crowded and expensive. Typhoid causes an estimated 135,000-230,000 deaths annually, while shigella was the second-leading cause of diarrheal mortality in 2016, accounting for around 212,000 deaths worldwide.
Zydus will be responsible for conducting early-stage development, animal studies, and preclinical toxicology work for the combination vaccine.
The article was published on March 4, 2025.
