IIT Bhubaneswar, ILS transfer novel TB vaccine technology to TechInvention Lifecare; NRDC facilitates licensing

New Delhi: In a major boost to India’s fight against tuberculosis, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar and the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar have transferred a novel TB vaccine technology to TechInvention Lifecare Limited through a Quadripartite License Agreement (QLA) facilitated by the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC).

PSU Watch is now on Whatsapp Channels. Click here to join

The agreement covers the technology transfer and commercialization of a next-generation vaccine candidate, “HSP Subunit Vaccine in Adjuvant (DDA) Against Mycobacterium tuberculosis,” developed to address the limitations of the century-old Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG) vaccine currently in use.

According to WHO estimates, tuberculosis claimed 1.23 million lives in 2024, remaining one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases. The new vaccine candidate aims to generate strong humoral and cell-mediated immune responses and is designed to improve the protective efficacy of the existing BCG vaccine, especially among adolescents and adults—groups where BCG has shown limited effectiveness.

The technology has been jointly developed by Prof. Ashis Biswas of IIT Bhubaneswar and Dr. Sunil Kumar Raghav of ILS Bhubaneswar. NRDC proactively identified and evaluated the innovation and facilitated the licensing process to accelerate its advancement towards commercialization.

The technology exchange ceremony was held at ILS Bhubaneswar in the presence of senior officials, including ILS Director Dr. Debasis Dash; IIT Bhubaneswar Director Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar; IIT Bhubaneswar Dean (Sponsored Research & Industrial Consultancy) Prof. Dinakar Pasla; NRDC Senior Regional Manager Dr. B. K. Sahu; TechInvention Lifecare Director & CEO Syed S. Ahmed; Dr. Raghav; and Prof. Biswas, among others.

The HSP Subunit Vaccine represents a significant milestone in India’s scientific efforts to develop advanced interventions against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The collaboration underscores the strength of India’s research ecosystem and its commitment to addressing major public health challenges through indigenous innovation.

TechInvention Lifecare Limited, the licensed industry partner, will lead the transition of the technology from the research stage to product development, validation and eventual market readiness. With experience in vaccine development, manufacturing and regulatory processes, the company is expected to play a pivotal role in ensuring the vaccine candidate moves efficiently through the development pipeline.

The partnership strengthens India’s mission to eliminate TB and demonstrates the potential of collaborative, research-driven healthcare innovation in delivering impactful solutions at both national and global levels.

(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Google News. Click here to follow. Also, join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram. You may also follow us on Twitter here and stay updated.)