The Union Cabinet has approved the renewal and expansion of the strategic partnership between the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). The updated framework broadens the scope of collaboration beyond vaccines to include research, development and manufacturing of monoclonal antibodies and associated biologic technologies. This marks a significant evolution of the original partnership established in 2019, which was primarily focused on accelerating vaccine development for epidemic-prone diseases.

Under the earlier agreement, BIRAC’s bioassay laboratory and state-of-the-art animal facility carried out a range of activities supporting CEPI’s vaccine pipeline. These included analytical testing, animal studies and development support for vaccine candidates targeting global public health threats such as Chikungunya, various coronaviruses and Monkeypox. The renewed arrangement builds on this foundation by incorporating monoclonal antibody research, recognising their critical role in preventing and treating emerging infectious diseases. This aligns with global scientific trends, where mAbs have become increasingly vital tools in outbreak response due to their high specificity, rapid development timelines and effectiveness when vaccines alone may not be sufficient.

The expanded partnership is expected to further strengthen India’s preparedness for future health emergencies by enabling a diversified approach to medical countermeasures. By integrating vaccine development with monoclonal antibody platforms, the collaboration aims to create a more flexible and responsive ecosystem capable of addressing a wider range of pathogens. Indian authorities have highlighted the importance of tapping into the country’s mature biotechnology infrastructure, skilled scientific workforce and strong manufacturing capabilities to support this broadened mandate. The renewed agreement also emphasises the need for enhanced technology transfer, scale-up support and global collaboration so that innovations developed in India can rapidly reach patients worldwide.

CEPI’s engagement with BIRAC has already helped accelerate multiple research programmes, and the inclusion of monoclonal antibodies is expected to open new avenues for scientific advancement. This will enable India to participate more fully in the global preparedness agenda, especially as the world continues to face threats from rapidly evolving infectious diseases. The collaboration is also aligned with India’s mission to strengthen indigenous research capabilities and promote innovation-driven growth in its biotech sector.

Overall, the renewal and expansion of the BIRAC–CEPI partnership represents a forward-looking step that recognises the need for an integrated and comprehensive strategy for epidemic preparedness. By combining vaccine expertise with advanced biologic technologies such as monoclonal antibodies, India is positioning itself to contribute more meaningfully to global health security and the development of next-generation medical solutions.