ICMR Transfers Indigenous Cancer, Vaccine Technologies To Industry For Commercial Development

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has transferred three indigenous biomedical technologies—including a novel therapeutic candidate for HPV-related precancerous cervical lesions and two next-generation vaccine platforms against enteric bacterial infections—to Indian pharma companies for further development, manufacturing and commercialisation.

Emcure Pharmaceuticals has received the licence for SHetA2, an experimental anti-human papillomavirus (HPV) therapeutic candidate intended for the treatment of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN), a precancerous condition that can progress to cervical cancer if left untreated. At the same time, Biological E Ltd. has acquired licences for two vaccine technologies developed against major enteric bacterial infections.

The technologies have been licensed under ICMR's Medical Innovations Patent Mitra initiative, which seeks to move publicly funded research from laboratories to patients through partnerships with industry. The transfers are expected to support the development of affordable therapies for cervical precancer and vaccines against typhoid, paratyphoid and Shigella infections.

“Technology transfer is a critical step in biomedical innovation because many promising discoveries remain confined to research institutions without industrial partners capable of undertaking large-scale manufacturing, regulatory development and commercial production,” said an official from the ICMR.

SHetA2 was jointly developed by scientists at the ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR) and the Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma, United States. According to ICMR, it is a first-in-class targeted therapeutic candidate designed to selectively eliminate HPV-induced precancerous and cervical cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.

If future clinical development and regulatory approvals are successful, the therapy could provide women with a minimally invasive and potentially more affordable treatment option for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, reducing the likelihood of progression to cervical cancer and the need for surgical procedures.

Cervical cancer remains one of the leading cancers among women in India. While HPV vaccination and screening programmes have expanded in recent years, specialists say effective treatment for precancerous lesions remains an important component of cervical cancer prevention.

The two vaccine technologies transferred to Biological E were developed by scientists led by Dr. Santasabuj Das at the ICMR-National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections (NIRBI), Kolkata.

One technology is a fusion construct containing Salmonella typhi outer membrane protein, designed as a next-generation typhoid vaccine candidate. The second is a recombinant vaccine composition intended to provide broader protection against Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi and Shigella infections.

Researchers believe the broader vaccine approach could help address the persistent burden of enteric bacterial diseases, particularly in countries like India where inadequate sanitation and antimicrobial resistance continue to complicate disease control.

Typhoid fever continues to affect thousands of people annually in India, while increasing antimicrobial resistance has reduced the effectiveness of several commonly used antibiotics. A vaccine capable of protecting against multiple enteric bacterial pathogens could help reduce infections as well as dependence on antibiotic treatment.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research and Director General, ICMR, said the organisation remains focused on ensuring that publicly funded research leads to products that improve health outcomes.

"Through initiatives such as Medical Innovations Patent Mitra, we are strengthening the pathway from scientific discovery to commercialisation by fostering partnerships between researchers and industry. These technology transfers demonstrate the growing maturity of India's biomedical innovation ecosystem and represent another step towards achieving self-reliance in healthcare innovation," he said.