Human Biologicals Institute (HBI), a division of Indian Immunologicals
Limited (IIL) celebrates its silver jubilee, 25 years since its establishment in 1998. HBI was created in an era
where the need for indigenous vaccines is paramount and thus has contributed to a self-reliant India –
“Atmanirbhar Bharat”. While celebrating the occasion of 25 th year of HBI with distinguished medical doctors
assembled from various parts of the country in the serene precincts of Udhagamandalam (Ooty), IIL
launched Mebella TM (Measles and Rubella) vaccine for children.
This live attenuated MR vaccine has been developed by IIL in an exclusive partnership with Polyvac Institute,
Vietnam. Through extensive human clinical trials, Mebella TM has been proven to be safe and effective.
Upon request from Government of India, HBI indigenously developed India’s 1 st safe Vero-cell rabies vaccine
– Abhayrab in 1998, paving way for Government of India to phase out the painful nerve tissue vaccine.
Today, Abhayrab is the largest selling Anti-Rabies vaccine in the world. Millions of lives have been saved in
India and across the world with HBI’s Abhayrab vaccine. Subsequently, several childhood vaccines such as
DPT, Pentavalent Vaccine, TT, Hepatitis-B, MR, Td vaccines were introduced by HBI.
IIL’s journey of excellence in vaccine development reached its summit during the Covid 19 pandemic. IIL rose
to the nation’s call and contributed to the manufacturing of many million doses of vaccines. This capability of
IIL was much appreciated by NITI Ayog, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and several other agencies.
Speaking on this occasion, Dr K Anand Kumar, Managing Director, Indian Immunologicals, spoke about the
significant contribution made by IIL to the nation, towards disease control and access to several lifesaving
vaccines in its 25 years of existence. “IIL has now emerged as one of the largest suppliers of human vaccines
to the UIP, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, saving many precious lives. IIL also
exports quality vaccines to more than 50 countries across the globe.” During the launch of Mebella TM
(Measles and Rubella vaccine) today, he also expressed the need for control of deadly Measles and Rubella,
that claims about 1,00,000 lives of children globally. He also pointed out that the company should be
known for elimination, eradication of disease than the number of doses of vaccine it sells. To this extent IIL
has taken up CSR activity to make Thiruvananthapuram district rabies free in a few years.
“IIL adopts modern manufacturing practices to produce quality vaccines and has adequate infrastructure to
meet the national requirements. By implementing environmentally sustainable packaging for Abhayrab®, IIL
saved 160 tons of plastic per annum”, added Dr Priyabrata Pattnaik, Dy. MD, IIL.
