In a first by a government facility, Pune-based Institute of Veterinary Biological Products (IVBP), which operates under the Maharashtra Department of Animal Husbandry, has developed a Goat Pox vaccine, which is significant for controlling a highly contagious disease caused by the goat pox virus (Capripox virus genus).

The virus, which is endemic in India, Southwest Asia, the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of Africa, can lead to extremely high morbidity rates (up to 100%) and mortality rates (up to 80-100% in young animals), resulting in substantial economic losses for small ruminant farmers.

Dr Y A Pathan, Joint Commissioner of Animal Husbandry and Dairying at IVBP, told The Indian Express that the initial production will consist of approximately 1.15 crore doses of the vaccine. “We are also expecting to receive the production licence soon from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI),” Dr Pathan stated.

Established in 1960, IVBP is the only institute in Maharashtra that produces vaccines for domestic animals and birds, including bacterial and viral vaccines, diagnostic antigens, and reagents. The institute addresses the vaccine needs of livestock farmers through government veterinary dispensaries.

The technology for the vaccine was transferred to IVBP through a non-exclusive license agreement signed on January 20, 2023, via Agrinnovate India Ltd, a Government of India enterprise and the commercial arm of ICAR. This transfer includes the know-how, seed virus, and biological materials necessary for commercial production.

IVBP has also been granted a test licence for producing Lumpi-ProVac, an indigenously developed vaccine for Lumpy Skin Disease in cattle, which shares technological similarities with the Goat Pox Vaccine. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for this was signed on December 29, 2022, in Nagpur, emphasizing large-scale production to meet India’s livestock needs.

IVBP has been granted the test licence to produce Lumpi-ProVac, an indigenously developed vaccine for Lumpy Skin Disease in cattle, which shares technological similarities with the Goat Pox Vaccine. An MoU for this was signed on December 29, 2022, at Nagpur, emphasising large-scale production to meet India’s livestock needs.

The production process consists of propagating the attenuated seed virus in Vero cell lines, which are monkey kidney-derived cell cultures suitable for viral replication. Key steps in the process include the preparation and maintenance of Vero cells, inoculation with the seed virus, monitoring viral kinetics (titers at various time points), harvesting, clarification, and formulation of the vaccine, followed by lyophilization (freeze-drying) for stability and storage.

“ICAR-IVRI provides five vials of seed virus, detailed SOPs, and training for up to 3 IVBP staff at their facility (up to 10 days). On-site technical support from IVRI scientists ensures smooth implementation,” Dr Pathan explained. He added that three consecutive batches must pass all QC tests before commercial release. “Our protocols include assessments of safety, sterility, and potency, with potential modifications based on field data. The vaccine is safe for goats and provides long-term immunity against Goat Pox,” Dr Pathan added.

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions.   ... Read More

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