The Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) has approved Biolumpivaxin, India’s first vaccine for lumpy skin disease (LSD) in dairy cattle and buffaloes. The vaccine has been developed by Biovet, a company under the Bharat Biotech group.
Biolumpivaxin is a live-attenuated marker vaccine made using the LSD virus strain from the Indian Council of Agriculture Research-National Research Centre on Equines (ICAR-NRCE) in Hisar. This vaccine technology was shared with four manufacturers, including Bengaluru-based Biovet, in 2022.
Biovet announced that Biolumpivaxin is not only India’s first LSD vaccine but also the world’s safest and first-ever Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals (DIVA) marker vaccine. This special feature allows experts to distinguish between vaccinated animals and those naturally infected with LSD.
The vaccine has undergone rigorous testing for quality, safety, and effectiveness at ICAR-NRCE and the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), meeting global standards. Dr. Krishna Ella, founder of Biovet, stated that the DIVA marker vaccine is a major breakthrough in veterinary medicine. It will help in disease control by identifying whether an animal was vaccinated or previously infected.
Dr. Ella also highlighted that CDSCO’s approval marks an important step toward making India self-reliant in veterinary healthcare. With this vaccine, India can reduce its dependence on imported vaccines and work towards a disease-free livestock population, benefiting the dairy industry.
Biovet’s facility in Mallur, Karnataka, has the capacity to produce 500 million doses of Biolumpivaxin annually. The company confirmed that the vaccine will be available for commercial use very soon.
Lumpy skin disease is a serious illness affecting cattle, causing skin nodules, fever, swollen lymph nodes, reduced milk production, and difficulty in movement. It spreads through insect bites from mosquitoes, ticks, and other vectors. Over the past two years, around 200,000 cattle in India have died due to LSD, while millions have suffered from decreased milk production.
The launch of Biolumpivaxin is expected to be a major step in protecting India’s livestock and ensuring the sustainability of the dairy industry.
