Bharat Biotech has launched Biolumpivaxin, India’s first DIVA marker vaccine to combat Lumpy Skin Disease in cattle and buffaloes. Developed with ICAR-NRCE and Biovet, the vaccine supports disease control and livestock growth, offering annual single-dose protection and enhancing surveillance by differentiating vaccinated animals from infected ones.
Bharat Biotech has announced the launch of Biolumpivaxin, a pioneering vaccine developed to counter the growing threat of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in cattle and buffaloes across India. This significant development was revealed during the Livestock Prosperity Conclave in Vijayawada, with the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu, inaugurating the launch.
Biolumpivaxin is the world’s first DIVA (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals) marker vaccine. It offers a critical advantage in disease surveillance by allowing authorities to distinguish between animals that have been naturally infected and those that have been vaccinated. The vaccine is based on the LSD virus/Ranchi/2019 strain, co-developed by ICAR-NRCE (National Research Centre on Equines) and Biovet, a sister concern of Bharat Biotech.
Packaged in multi-dose vials (containing 25 to 100 doses), Biolumpivaxin is stable at 2–8°C and designed for single annual dosing. This makes it both practical and efficient for mass immunization efforts, particularly important in a country with a large cattle population.
The vaccine launch comes in response to serious outbreaks of Lumpy Skin Disease that have affected Indian livestock in recent years. According to the Ministry of Animal Husbandry, since 2019, LSD outbreaks have caused the deaths of over 200,000 cattle and led to substantial losses in milk production.
With its manufacturing plant in Bengaluru, Biovet has a production capacity of 500 million doses, aiming to meet the urgent need for widespread immunization across India’s livestock sector. Krishna Ella, the founder of Biovet and executive chairman of Bharat Biotech, emphasized the broader significance of the vaccine. “Protecting livestock is not just an agricultural issue—it’s vital for our economic and social stability,” he noted.
The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh also highlighted the vaccine’s role in supporting the state’s livestock economy, projecting a 20% growth in the sector as a result of widespread immunization. This vaccine is also a strong stride toward the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative, as it reduces dependency on imported solutions and strengthens India’s biosecurity infrastructure.
The introduction of Biolumpivaxin marks a major advancement in India’s fight against livestock diseases and a step forward in building sustainable and resilient agriculture and dairy industries.
