EuBiologics ships 1st batch of improved cholera vaccine to Niger

EuBiologics, a local vaccine development specialist, said it has shipped the first batch of its newly improved oral cholera vaccine, Euvichol-S, developed in collaboration with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), to Niger.

The shipment consists of approximately 1.07 million doses.

Euvichol-S is an upgraded version of Euvichol-Plus, designed to increase production yield by nearly 40 percent through enhancements in its manufacturing process and antigen composition. The vaccine, jointly developed over four years with financial support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, completed phase 1 and 3 clinical trials, receiving export approval last year, and achieved prequalification (PQ) from the World Health Organization (WHO) in April this year.

The company stressed that the release of Euvichol-S comes at a critical time, as cholera infections are on the rise in parts of Africa, exacerbating global vaccine shortages.

The International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision also recently recommended prioritizing a single-dose cholera vaccine regimen due to the shortage.

The company aims to alleviate the global cholera vaccine shortage with the launch of Euvichol-S. EuBiologics is currently expanding its vaccine production capacity through the construction of a second manufacturing facility in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province.

The company received WHO approval for an additional bulk vaccine production facility in May of this year, and approval for the final product manufacturing line is expected in the second half of next year.

By 2026, EuBiologics anticipates producing up to 90 million doses of cholera vaccine annually, contributing to global cholera eradication efforts while expanding the company’s revenue streams.

“With the release of the improved Euvichol-S, we aim to enhance the supply of cholera vaccines in affected regions and contribute to the global Ending Cholera 2030 initiative,” EuBiologics Executive Director Park Young-shin said. “From next year, we will be producing both bulk and finished vaccines at our expanded facility, helping to resolve the ongoing vaccine shortage and ensure stable supply.”