IIT Bhubaneswar and the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar, achieved a major milestone in public health innovation by transferring novel TB vaccine technology to TechInvention Lifecare Limited.
The National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) facilitated the Quadripartite License Agreement (QLA), signed on November 24, 2025, to enable future commercialisation of the vaccine candidate titled “HSP Subunit Vaccine in Adjuvant (DDA) Against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.”
Tuberculosis remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, claiming 1.23 million lives in 2024, according to the WHO. Ending the TB epidemic by 2030 is a global priority under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, the century-old Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG) vaccine offers limited protection, mainly to infants, and fails to prevent pulmonary TB in adolescents and adults.
To address this gap, Prof. Ashis Biswas of IIT Bhubaneswar and Dr Sunil Kumar Raghav of ILS led collaborative research to develop the HSP Subunit Vaccine. The candidate is designed to trigger strong humoral and cell-mediated immune responses while enhancing the protective efficacy of the existing BCG vaccine.
The technology exchange ceremony at ILS Bhubaneswar witnessed the presence of senior dignitaries, including Dr Debasis Dash, Director, ILS; Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar, Director, IIT Bhubaneswar; Prof. Dinakar Pasla, Dean (Sponsored Research & Industrial Consultancy), IIT Bhubaneswar; Dr B. K. Sahu of NRDC; Syed S. Ahmed, CEO of TechInvention; and other distinguished guests.
TechInvention Lifecare Limited will play a crucial role in translating this indigenous vaccine into a viable public health solution. With expertise in vaccine development, regulatory readiness, and manufacturing, TechInvention ensures efficient advancement from research to commercialisation. This partnership strengthens India’s mission to eliminate tuberculosis and highlights the transformative potential of indigenous, research-driven healthcare innovations.
