India’s Rs 500-crore rabies vaccine market is set for a massive boost after the Supreme Court stray dogs ruling mandating sterilisation, vaccination, and stricter rabies control nationwide.
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NEW DELHI: India’s rabies vaccine market, spanning both human and veterinary segments, is poised for rapid growth following a landmark Supreme Court directive on August 11, 2025. The apex court has ordered the removal, sterilisation, vaccination, and sheltering of all stray dogs within eight weeks, overturning the long-standing catch-neuter-release model under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023.
The sweeping order, complete with CCTV monitoring of compliance, is already compelling state and municipal bodies to reassess procurement strategies for anti-rabies vaccines, setting the stage for a significant market boost.
India accounts for 36% of global rabies deaths, with the WHO estimating 18,000–20,000 fatalities annually. Beyond the human toll, rabies imposes a severe economic burden of nearly Rs 23.8 crore annually in treatment costs and productivity losses, according to The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia (June 2025).
Reported dog bite cases have surged alarmingly, from 21 lakh in 2022 to 37 lakh in 2024, underscoring the urgent need for effective prevention measures.
The veterinary rabies vaccine market, valued at Rs 296.43 crore in 2023, was projected by IMARC Group to reach Rs 410.82 crore by 2030. But with the court now mandating nationwide sterilisation and annual canine vaccination, this sector is expected to grow much faster than earlier estimates.
More broadly, the Indian animal vaccine market (all species) is forecast to expand from Rs 3,899.45 crore in 2024 to Rs 7,114.2 crore by 2033, reflecting rising awareness and regulatory enforcement.
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On the human health front, the demand for WHO-prequalified post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is steadily climbing.
- The human anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) market is valued at Rs 500 crore, growing at over 10% annually.
- Pharmarack data shows 7.6 million ARV doses were consumed in the trade channel alone, worth Rs 266 crore as of July 2025.
- ARVs account for 90% of the market value, with sales rising from Rs 225 crore (2024) to Rs 240 crore (2025).
- The immunoglobulin (RIG) segment, though smaller, showed robust growth from Rs 18 crore (2024) to Rs 25 crore (2025).
Seasonal peaks in demand occur during summer and monsoon months, especially January, March, and July, correlating with higher dog bite cases. In July 2025 alone, 7.23 lakh ARV doses were sold.
Key Market Players and Market Share
- Serum Institute’s Rabivax S and Indian Immunologicals’ Abhayrab together account for 66% of the ARV market value in 2025.
- Bharat Biotech’s Chirorab has declined from 2.82 million doses (2021) to 0.87 million (2025).
- Mankind Pharma’s Equirab holds a strong share in the sera segment.
- Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL) dominates with 42% trade market share and 60% government procurement, giving it an overall 52% market share.
Bharat Biotech and Chiron Behring continue to push forward with Indirab and Chirorab, emphasizing their commitment to addressing India’s rabies burden.
A nationwide survey (Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, 2023) across 534 health facilities in 15 states revealed:
- 80% of facilities stocked ARVs, but only 20% stocked RIG.
- Primary care centres—the first stop for most bite victims—showed poor coverage, with just 58.9% stocking ARVs and 5.9% stocking RIG.
- Secondary and tertiary facilities had far better coverage, with over 90% ARV availability.
- Regional disparities: South (93.2%), West (89.5%), East (81.4%), North (76%), and North-East (60%).
Encouragingly, nearly two-thirds of facilities have adopted the intradermal (ID) regimen, which reduces vaccine costs by up to 60%, though adoption remains low in eastern and north-eastern India.
Manufacturers are gearing up to meet rising demand:
Industry leaders emphasize the urgent need for timely access to both ARVs and RIG, especially at the primary care level.
Bharat Serums and Vaccines (BSV) produces around 1 lakh ARV doses per month and plans a 15–20% capacity expansion by FY26.
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IN RE: CITY HOUNDED BY STRAYS, KIDS PAY PRICE
SMW(C) No. 5/2025
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