‘Abhayrab’ rabies vaccine
Why in News?
The Abhayrab rabies vaccine is recently in the news because India’s apex drug regulator and the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) flagged a counterfeit and substandard batch (Batch No. KE25012) of this widely used vaccine, triggering severe public health warnings and a criminal investigation.
About the Abhayrab Vaccine
- The Manufacturer: Abhayrab is manufactured by Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), a prominent government-backed pharmaceutical company.
- Market Share: It is one of India's most critical human anti-rabies vaccines, accounting for roughly 40% of the country's rabies vaccine market. IIL has supplied over 210 million doses globally across two decades.
- Application: It is a human rabies vaccine used for both pre-exposure prophylaxis (preventative vaccination for high-risk individuals) and post-exposure prophylaxis (administered immediately after an animal bite).
- How it Works: The vaccine helps the body develop specific antibodies that recognize and fight the rabies virus, preventing it from attacking the central nervous system.
- Critical Importance: Rabies is a viral disease that is virtually 100% fatal once clinical symptoms appear. Because a fake or low-potency vaccine offers zero protection, the circulation of counterfeit batches poses a life-threatening risk to animal bite victims.
- Company Status on Safety: IIL has clarified that the original, authorized batch of KE25012 passed all regulatory safety steps. They emphasize that any doses bought or administered through authorized hospitals, clinics, or licensed pharmacies are completely safe and unaffected by the counterfeit racket.
