- India launches its first ASF vaccine by ICAR-NIHSAD.
- New vaccine comes after years of widespread disruption and financial losses.
- Homegrown vaccine has potential low-cost manufacturing advantage.
The ASF vaccine was developed by scientists of Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (ICAR-NIHSAD).
ASF is a highly contagious viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. The disease is characterised by high fever, internal haemorrhaging and mortality rates that can reach nearly 100%.
First detected in India in 2020, ASF has lacked both an effective treatment and a commercially approved vaccine in the country.
Authorities have primarily relied on rapid diagnosis, culling infected animals and strict biosecurity measures to contain the disease.
However, outbreaks continued to spread across states and causing widespread death and disruption, resulting in substantial financial losses.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), ASF outbreaks in Assam during 2020 and 2021 resulted in pig mortality and culling losses estimated at approximately ₹276 crore (USD29m)
In Mizoram, outbreaks have reportedly affected more than 11,382 households through 2025, with estimated economic losses of around ₹982 crore (USD103m).
“These outbreaks have highlighted the urgent need for an effective indigenous solution to strengthen disease preparedness, protect farmers’ livelihoods and build resilience in the country’s pig farming sector,” said officials.
India’s first ASF vaccine
According to ICAR, the vaccine is based on a live attenuated ASF virus produced using the MA-104 cell line.
Comparing it to ASF vaccines currently available in Vietnam that rely on patented proprietary cell lines, ICAR said the homegrown vaccine was easier to manufacture at scale.
“The indigenous vaccine developed by ICAR-NIHSAD uses the widely available MA-104 cell line, making it a major technological breakthrough. This eliminates dependence on proprietary manufacturing platforms, enables large-scale vaccine production and significantly brings down manufacturing costs.”
This approach enables large-scale manufacturing, lowers production costs and could position India as a global supplier of affordable ASF vaccines.
Dr M.L. Jat, secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and director general of ICAR, described the vaccine as the beginning of a new era in veterinary science for India.
He said the achievement demonstrates the country’s growing capability to develop world-class animal health technologies and lays the foundation for future indigenous vaccines and innovations that can enhance livestock health, improve disease preparedness and bolster food and biosecurity.
Trialed and tested
The vaccine underwent extensive laboratory testing covering sterility, purity, safety, genetic stability, immunogenicity, protective efficacy and virulence reversion assessments.
Additionally, validation trials were conducted in collaboration with the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) under India’s Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.
These trials further confirmed the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness under practical field conditions.
“By providing an effective preventive tool against one of the world’s most destructive livestock diseases, it will significantly strengthen India’s animal health security and support the sustainable growth of the pig farming sector.
The vaccine is recommended for healthy pigs older than eight weeks. Vaccination involves a 1ml intramuscular injection followed by a booster dose 14 days later.
