**Dow University Unveils Pakistan’s First Locally Manufactured Human Rabies Vaccine**
In a landmark achievement for Pakistan’s healthcare sector, Dow University of Health Sciences has successfully developed the country’s first locally manufactured rabies vaccine for human use. This breakthrough is expected to reduce dependency on imports and improve access to life-saving post-bite treatment across the nation.
Dow University announced that it has produced a purified, inactivated, lyophilized rabies vaccine—branded as “DOW Rab”—using strains of the rabies virus isolated in Pakistan. This marks the first time a human-grade rabies vaccine has been developed entirely within the country, representing a major step forward in medical self-sufficiency and innovation.
Currently, the university is preparing clinical batches of the vaccine and awaiting regulatory approval to begin human trials. Initial production in 2024 yielded 30,000 doses, with plans underway to manufacture an additional 170,000 doses in the next phase as clinical trial requirements are met.
At present, Pakistan imports approximately 2 million rabies vaccine doses every year, placing a significant financial burden on the healthcare system. Experts project that local vaccine production could eliminate the need for imports by 2031, offering substantial cost savings and improving the country’s capacity to manage rabies cases.
The vaccine initiative holds particular importance for rural areas, where incidents of dog bites are more common and access to immediate, effective post-exposure vaccination remains limited. Delays in treatment in these regions often result in avoidable fatalities, underscoring the urgency of locally available vaccines.
While Dow University began commercial production of conventional rabies vaccines in 2024, the development of this advanced, human-grade vaccine represents an unprecedented accomplishment for Pakistan’s biotechnology sector. Following completion and approval of clinical trials, full-scale national production and distribution are expected to commence, positioning Pakistan to meet its entire human rabies vaccine demand through local manufacturing.
