Tue Jul 15 10:07:52 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten version as a news article:

**Summary:**

The CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) in Hyderabad is planning larger-scale trials for their indigenously developed mRNA vaccine technology to combat Chikungunya. The lab trials have shown promising results, demonstrating the vaccine’s ability to produce antibodies against Chikungunya proteins. The institute has also completed initial trials for an mRNA vaccine against tuberculosis (TB), but requires additional funding for further testing. Despite developing a working “Proof of Concept” for mRNA technology during the COVID-19 pandemic, the AIC has struggled to attract interest from Indian industry and foreign collaborators, who often prefer licensing foreign technologies. The CEO asserts that their mRNA technology is as safe as globally approved mRNA vaccines like Pfizer’s Comirnaty and Moderna’s Spikevax, and is now seeking new partners to advance the Chikungunya and TB vaccine trials.

**News Article:**

**Indigenous mRNA Vaccine for Chikungunya Inches Closer to Trials in India**

**HYDERABAD, July 15, 2025** – The CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) in Hyderabad is forging ahead with its plans to conduct larger-scale trials of an indigenously developed mRNA vaccine for Chikungunya. This development marks a significant step forward in India’s fight against the debilitating disease, which currently lacks a vaccine.

“Chikungunya is a serious health concern in India, and we believe our mRNA technology offers a promising solution,” stated N. Madhusudhana Rao, CEO of AIC-CCMB. “We have already demonstrated the potential of our mRNA platform during the COVID-19 pandemic, and our lab data for the Chikungunya vaccine is very encouraging.”

Animal trials have shown that the vaccine candidate successfully stimulates the production of antibodies against Chikungunya proteins. The next phase will involve infecting the animals and monitoring the reduction of the viral load upon administration of the vaccine.

The institute has also made headway in developing an mRNA vaccine against tuberculosis (TB). However, further progress on the TB vaccine hinges on securing adequate funding for more extensive animal trials and testing.

Despite the success of the “Proof of Concept” of their mRNA platform and its potential to rapidly develop vaccines for various diseases, AIC-CCMB has faced challenges in attracting commercial partners. “We have seen limited interest from both Indian and foreign companies,” explained Mr. Rao, highlighting the prevalent tendency to license foreign technologies rather than invest in local innovations.

Mr. Rao emphasized that the mRNA technology developed at AIC-CCMB is as safe and effective as globally recognized mRNA vaccines like Pfizer’s Comirnaty and Moderna’s Spikevax, having undergone rigorous third-party quality checks. mRNA vaccines offer a potentially faster and more versatile approach to combating viral diseases.

AIC-CCMB is now actively seeking new partners to advance the Chikungunya and TB vaccine trials, underscoring its commitment to leveraging indigenous technology for the betterment of public health.

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