Australia's Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Bangladesh's Incepta Pharmaceuticals have teamed up to develop a vaccine that could save hundreds of thousands of children's lives, Australia's News Network reports.
According to a press release, Incepta will collaborate with the MCRI to develop a vaccine to fight rotavirus, the most common cause of severe diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide.
In Bangladesh, where more than 2 million babies are born every year, the vaccine could save hundreds of thousands of children's lives.
The vaccine, called RV3-BB, was developed by MCRI researchers in the 1980s after they discovered a naturally occurring strain of rotavirus.
It fights off dehydrating diarrhea from birth, which is the main cause of severe diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide.
MCRI researchers say the vaccine has the potential to save hundreds of thousands of children's lives every year.
"Rotavirus claims the lives of about 450,000 children under the age of five annually, making the need for accessible and effective vaccines urgent," MCRI's director of infection, immunity, and global health says in the press release.
"By joining forces with Incepta Pharmaceuticals, they were poised to make RV3-BB readily available to communities
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