DUHS launches locally-produced anti-rabies vaccine

Dow University of Health and Sciences (DUHS) has introduced ‘Dow Rab’, an anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) designed specifically for dog bite victims.

The newly-introduced vaccine, developed by the varsity, can now be accessed with a simple phone call, initially serving people living in Sindh and later will be extending its availability nationwide.

The vaccine will be delivered to the desired location within forty-eight hours of a phone call.

DUHS Vice-Chancellor Professor Muhammad Saeed Quraishi launched the ‘Dow Rab’ during a ceremony on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Quraishi said that an initial supply of 30,000 doses of ‘Dow Rab’ has been distributed through the network, manufactured at the Dow Institute of Life Sciences (DILS) located at the Ojha campus, utilising imported raw materials.

Expressing determination, Professor Quraishi emphasised plans to produce the vaccine's raw materials locally, thereby reducing dependency on imports, particularly from China. Efforts are underway to scale up production, with a target of producing an additional 170,000 doses of ARV in the near future.

Quraishi highlighted the culmination of extensive research and regulatory processes, culminating in the commercial production of the vaccine at the Ojha campus. The complete course of the vaccine will be available for Rs1,500, he said.

DUHS previously had developed IVIG Immunoglobulin during the Covid-19 pandemic, which played a crucial role in saving lives of numerous patients.

Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the varsity and the distribution network Muller and Phipps to ensure the phased availability of ARV Dow Rab across Pakistan.

Each year, approximately a million people in Pakistan fall victim to stray dog bites, leading to an estimated 5,000-6,000 deaths from rabies. The National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad reports a national demand for over two million doses of ARV annually, a significant portion of which is imported from the neighbouring country.

The ceremony was attended by key figures including DILS CEO, Syed Izhar Hussain, along with Tariq Shahid Director Marketing and many other notable health experts.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2024.