π Rabies Vaccine Tracker Dashboard
Tracking rabies vaccines for pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure treatment. Rabies is 99.9% fatal once symptoms appear but nearly 100% preventable with prompt post-exposure vaccination. Licensed vaccines (Verorab, Imovax Rabies, RabAvert) save thousands of lives annually. Globally, ~59,000 deaths occur yearly, mostly in Asia and Africa from dog bites. This tracker monitors licensed vaccines, next-generation candidates for simplified dosing, intradermal administration, and rabies immunoglobulin alternatives. WHO goal: Zero human rabies deaths by 2030 through mass dog vaccination and improved human post-exposure prophylaxis access.
β οΈ 99.9% FATAL WITHOUT TREATMENT:
Rabies is almost universally fatal once symptoms appear, but nearly 100% preventable with prompt post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). ~59,000 deaths annually, 95% in Asia/Africa. Children under 15 account for 40% of deaths.
Rabies Vaccines by Development Phase
4
Licensed Vaccines (WHO Prequalified)
99.9%
Fatal Without Treatment
59,000
Annual Deaths Globally
β
Licensed Vaccines - WHO Prequalified
Technology
Inactivated Vero cell
Efficacy
Nearly 100% with proper PEP
WHO Prequalification
Yes
Administration
IM or ID
Storage
2-8Β°C
Details: Verorab is the most widely used rabies vaccine globally, manufactured from inactivated rabies virus grown on Vero cells (African green monkey kidney cells). WHO prequalified. Gold standard for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Nearly 100% effective when administered properly with rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) for severe exposures. Used in both intramuscular (IM) and intradermal (ID) regimens. ID administration uses 1/5th the dose, making it more affordable for low-resource settings. Standard PEP: 4-5 doses over 14-28 days depending on regimen. Pre-exposure: 3 doses (0, 7, 21-28 days). Storage at 2-8Β°C. Well-tolerated with minimal side effects (injection site reactions, headache). Critical for travelers to endemic regions, veterinarians, animal handlers, and laboratory workers.
Global Impact: Verorab has saved countless lives since its introduction. Used in mass dog vaccination campaigns (70% dog coverage eliminates human rabies) and for human PEP in endemic countries. Gavi support has improved access in low-income countries. Challenge: Cost remains barrier (~$50-100 per complete course in developing countries). WHOζ¨ε¨simplified regimens (1-week ID regimen) to reduce cost and improve compliance.
Technology
Inactivated HDCV
Approval
1980 (US FDA)
Efficacy
Nearly 100%
Use
PrEP and PEP
Description: Imovax Rabies (HDCV) was the first modern human diploid cell vaccine, replacing older nerve tissue vaccines with severe side effects. Grown on human diploid cells (MRC-5), inactivated with beta-propiolactone. FDA approved 1980. Gold standard in developed countries, particularly US. Highly immunogenic - virtually 100% seroconversion after complete series. Used for both pre-exposure (3 doses) and post-exposure (4-5 doses). Excellent safety profile. More expensive than Vero cell vaccines due to human cell substrate. Primarily used in high-income countries. Storage 2-8Β°C. Booster doses recommended for continued high-risk exposure.
Technology
Inactivated chick embryo cell
WHO Prequalification
Yes
Advantage
Lower cost than HDCV
Description: RabAvert uses purified chick embryo cells as substrate. WHO prequalified. Similar efficacy to HDCV and PVRV (nearly 100% with proper administration). Lower manufacturing cost than HDCV. Well-tolerated. Used globally for PrEP and PEP. Standard dosing regimens. Contraindicated in those with severe egg allergy (rare). Popular alternative to HDCV in many countries. Storage 2-8Β°C.
Technology
Freeze-dried Vero cell
WHO Prequalification
Yes (2017)
Advantage
Thermostable, lower cost
Description: Freeze-dried (lyophilized) Vero cell vaccine with improved thermostability. WHO prequalified 2017. Critical for low-resource settings with unreliable cold chain. Can withstand higher temperatures for short periods. Lower cost than traditional vaccines ($5-15 per dose in bulk). Multiple manufacturers in Asia produce similar products. Equivalent efficacy to liquid formulations. Reconstituted before use. Expanding access in Africa and Asia where rabies burden highest. Gavi-supported procurement for endemic countries.
π¬ Phase 3 Clinical Trial
Developers
WHO / Multiple manufacturers
Regimen
4 doses over 1 week (Days 0, 3, 7)
Goal
Improved compliance, lower cost
Phase 3 Results
Non-inferior to standard regimen
Description: WHO-led studies evaluating simplified 1-week intradermal rabies vaccination regimen: 4 ID doses over 7 days (2 sites on Days 0 and 3, 1 site on Day 7). Phase 3 trials demonstrate non-inferiority to standard 4-dose IM regimen. Advantages: 60% dose sparing (uses 1/5th dose per site), shorter duration improves compliance, lower cost ($10-20 vs $50-100), fewer clinic visits. Particularly valuable for resource-limited settings where patient follow-up challenging. WHO updated PEP guidelines to include this regimen. Multiple countries implementing. Could dramatically improve rabies PEP access in Asia and Africa where most deaths occur.
𧬠Phase 2 & Phase 1 Development
Technology
mRNA-LNP encoding rabies G protein
Phase 1 Results
Safe, robust antibody responses
Advantage
Rapid manufacturing, dose-sparing
Description: mRNA vaccine encoding rabies virus glycoprotein (G protein). Phase 1 trials showed excellent safety and immunogenicity - all participants achieved protective antibody titers. Phase 2 ongoing. Potential advantages: rapid manufacturing (weeks vs months), dose-sparing (microgram doses), thermostability improvements, potential for single-dose regimens. Could revolutionize rabies prevention if successful. Particularly valuable for outbreak response and mass vaccination campaigns. CureVac-GSK partnership leveraging COVID-19 mRNA experience.
Developers
Multiple (Zydus, Serum Institute)
Technology
Humanized mAb cocktail
Goal
Replace expensive RIG ($300-3000)
Cost Target
$30-50 per treatment
Description: Recombinant human monoclonal antibodies targeting rabies virus glycoprotein. Designed to replace expensive rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) which costs $300-3,000 per treatment and has limited availability. mAbs can be manufactured at scale for $30-50 per treatment. Phase 2 trials show equivalent neutralization to RIG. Critical for severe exposures (WHO Category III - bites on head/neck, multiple bites). Current RIG shortage kills thousands annually in endemic countries. mAbs could save lives and prevent rabies deaths in resource-limited settings. WHO prequalification anticipated if Phase 3 successful.
Phase 1 (3 candidates): (1) Oral rabies vaccine for mass dog vaccination - tablet formulation; (2) Self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccine - 10-100x dose-sparing; (3) Thermostable lyophilized formulations - room temperature stable for months.
Preclinical (4 candidates): (1) Nanoparticle vaccines - enhanced mucosal immunity; (2) Viral vector vaccines (Ad5, VSV) - single-dose potential; (3) DNA vaccines with electroporation - needle-free; (4) Inhalable rabies vaccine - respiratory delivery.