Indian Immunologicals issues statement on Abhayrab vaccine and Australian advisory
Company responds to advisory reference and outlines actions on batch KA24014
Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) issued a statement addressing references to its Abhayrab rabies vaccine in an advisory issued by health authorities in Australia. The company rejected the reference to 2023 mentioned in the advisory and stated that the advisory does not reflect the situation at present. IIL said it has written to the health authorities in Australia with a request to revise the advisory.
According to IIL, Abhayrab has been manufactured by the company since 2000. The company said more than 210 million doses have been supplied in India and 43 countries. IIL stated that the vaccine holds a 40 per cent market share in India.
IIL said that in January 2025 it identified one batch in the market, Batch No. KA24014, with packaging that did not match the original. The company said it informed regulators in India and law enforcement agencies, lodged a complaint, and worked with authorities for action. IIL stated that this was one incident. The company said that the Abhayrab batch KA24014 manufactured and distributed across regions in India through distribution channels with authorisation from IIL received no market complaints. IIL said this affirms the quality and efficacy of the vaccine when procured through channels with authorisation from the company. IIL stated that there is no instance of any other counterfeit batch in the market beyond Batch No. KA24014.
The company said that each batch of vaccine manufactured in India undergoes testing and release by the Central Drugs Laboratory under the Government of India before sale or administration. IIL said that supplies through government institutions and distributors with authorisation remain safe and of standard quality.
Sunil Tiwari, Vice President and Head of Quality Management at Indian Immunologicals Limited, said, “IIL aims to reassure stakeholders that the company’s pharmacovigilance and quality systems are robust, and that the public can continue to place confidence in vaccines supplied directly by IIL and its authorised channels.”