31-Dec-2022: MoU signed for commercial production of indigenously developed vaccine "Lumpi-ProVac"

An MoU for production of Goat Pox vaccine and "Lumpi-ProVac" vaccine was signed in Nagpur on 29th December,2022  in the presence of Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, the Chief Minister and Deputy CM of Maharashtra. Shri Rupala praised the commendable effort put forth by ICAR in developing indigenous vaccine Lumpi-ProVac for LSD. He further said that this MoU will also ensure large-scale production of Goat Pox vaccine for future needs of India's livestock sector. At present Goat Pox vaccine is used for controlling Lumpy Skin Disease in animals and this has been proven effective against Lumpy.

He further highlighted the relevance of the technology and requested the IVBP, Pune to start manufacturing the vaccine at large scale without any delay so as to make the vaccine available for the use by the department for the help of the farmers by overcoming the disease.

National Centre for Veterinary Type Culture, ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines (ICAR-NRCE), Hisar (Haryana), in collaboration with ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar (UP) developed a homologous live-attenuated LSD vaccine, named Lumpi-ProVacInd. Agrinnovate India Limited  (AgIn), the commercial arm of DARE, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Govt. of India granted  “Non-Exclusive Rights” for Commercial production of “Lumpi-ProVac”, to Institute of Veterinary Biological Products (IVBP) , Pune today.

Lumpi-ProVacind is safe in animals and induces LSDV-specific antibody-and cell-mediated immune response, besides providing complete protection against lethal LSDV challenge. Lumpi-ProVacind is used for the prophylactic immunization of animals against Lumpy Skin Disease, which illicit protection for about one year.  A single dose of the vaccine contains 103.5 TCID50 of live-attenuated LSDV (Ranchi strain). The vaccine is stored at 4°C. The vaccine must be shipped on ice and must be used within a few hours after reconstitution. The patent has been filed by the ICAR for the technology.

The event was graced by Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Govt. of India, Shri Eknath Shinde, Chief-Minister, Govt. of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief-Minister, Govt. of Maharashtra, Shri Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Minister of Animal Husbandry, Govt. of Maharashtra, Dr. B.N. Tripathi, DDG (Animal Science), ICAR, Dr. Triveni Dutt, Director, ICAR-IVRI, Dr.  T K Bhattacharya, Director, ICAR-NRCE, Mr. Sachindra Pratap Singh, Commissioner (AH), Govt. of Maharashtra and Dr. Praveen Malik, CEO, AgIn, other officials from ICAR and AgIn. Agrinnovate, granted a non-exclusive license to IVBP, Pune for ten years.

The dignitaries congratulated the IVBP, Pune, ICAR-NRCE, ICAR-IVRI and AgIn for the successful transfer of the technology. It is  expected that the vaccine technology will definitely meet out the standard of the market and significantly provide a defence mechanism to control the devastating lumpy skin disease.

Background: The Lumpy Skin Disease has been reported in India from 2019 while first case was reported in the state of Odisha. After that, it has spread to multiple states in the country. In 2019, death of a large number of cattle has been reported from different states with high morbidity especially in North-West region of the country. The disease has been controlled and contained with the available Goatpox vaccine in the country. Considering the heavy production losses and mortality of sizable number of cattle, ICAR initiated research on development of indigenous homologous vaccine against Lumpy Skin Disease.

9-Dec-2022: Special Drive against Lumpy Skin Disease

Department is taking all necessary steps to support States / UTs to control and contain the disease, which include, financial and technical support. Central teams also visited the affected States / UTs and physical and virtual meetings have been conducted to sensitize the Sates / UTs’ authorities. Guidelines/advisories for control of LSD including vaccination and treatment have been circulated to the States / UTs for implementation to control and contain the disease within a definite timeline.

As gathered from Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), ICAR institutes (ICAR-NRCE and ICAR-IVRI) has developed a homologous live-attenuated vaccine (Lumpi- ProVac Ind). The vaccine technology has been transferred through M/s. Agrinnovate India Limited to two firms, viz. M/s. Biovet Private Limited, Bengaluru and M/s. Indian Immunologicals Limited, Hyderabad.

10-Aug-2022: Big relief for livestock, Agriculture Minister Shri Tomar launches indigenous vaccine for Lumpy Skin disease

Providing a big relief to the livestock of the country, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, today launched the indigenous vaccine Lumpi-ProVacInd to protect livestock from Lumpy Skin disease. The vaccine has been developed by the National Equine Research Center, Hisar (Haryana) in collaboration with the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar (Bareilly). Describing this vaccine as a milestone for eradicating the Lumpy disease, Shri Tomar said that livestock, along with human resource, is the biggest asset of our country, which we have a big responsibility to preserve and prosper.

Shri Tomar said that yet another new dimension has been set by developing this vaccine under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). He congratulated the scientists of the Equine Research Center and the Veterinary Research Institute for developing the Lumpy disease vaccine. Ever since the disease came to India in 2019, research institutes have been engaged in developing the vaccine.

Shri Tomar expressed happiness that scientists accepted this as a challenge and undertaking limited trials in a short period, have developed a vaccine 100% effective complying with all standards, which will be effective in getting rid of the Lumpy disease.

Shri Tomar directed the concerned officials to provide this vaccine in large numbers at the earliest for relief to the cattle. He said that there are thirty crore livestock in the country, considering the plight of mute animals, all possible measures should be taken to provide them relief at the earliest.

Shri Tomar said that earlier too, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, our scientists developed a vaccine to protect against Corona, which benefited the whole country as well as other countries.

Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala, Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Kailash Choudhary, Secretary Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Jatindra Nath Swain, Director General of ICAR, Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Deputy Director General Dr. B. N. Tripathi, Dr. Triveni Dutt, Director, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Dr. Yashpal, Director, National Equine Research Center and other senior officers were present on the occasion.