On Jan. 12, 2026, With support from the epidemic preparedness organisation Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Serum Institute of India (SII), part of Cyrus Poonawalla group, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, has entered into a licensing arrangement with the University of Oxford to create the largest-ever reserve of an investigational Rift Valley fever vaccine ready for testing. The collaboration comes amid a deadly outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease in Senegal and Mauritania. 

Under the agreement SII will manufacture up to 100,000 doses of the University of Oxford’s investigational vaccine candidate, ChAdOx1 RVF. An initial 10,000 doses are planned to be used in a potential upcoming clinical trial assessing the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine candidate in outbreak-affected areas. The remaining doses will be stored as an investigational reserve available for clinical testing to generate further evidence in  future outbreaks.  

In a major milestone for rapid vaccine production, SII has already filled and labelled 12,000 vials of the ChAdOx1 RVF vaccine just 16 days after receiving the essential ingredients.

This collaboration is a joint effort between CEPI, SII and University of Oxford. SII is one of CEPI’s preferred vaccine manufacturing collaborators and CEPI and Oxford hold a strategic partnership, with CEPI already supporting the development of ChAdOx1 RVF and other vaccines. As part of this agreement, CEPI is providing up to $3.5m to develop and manufacture the doses and create the vaccine reserve. 

Rift Valley fever mainly affects livestock, however people have fallen ill in Africa and the Middle East after coming into contact with infected animals or being bitten by infected mosquitoes. While most cases are mild, severe infections can cause brain inflammation and severe bleeding which can prove fatal. Beyond the direct health consequences, Rift Valley fever can severely impact the wellbeing and livelihoods of pastoral farmers in affected regions, as infections in animals can lead to devastating livestock and economic losses. 

ChAdOx1 RVF is among the most advanced vaccine candidates being developed to protect people against Rift Valley fever. Findings from a new vaccine trial could add to clinical research already taking place on ChAdOx1 RVF in Kenya and bring the world closer to the first licensed human Rift Valley fever vaccine.

ChAdOx1 RVF has completed Phase I trials in the UK and Uganda. Results published from the UK and Uganda trials show it was safe and generated an immune response. A CEPI-supported Phase II trial, separate to the upcoming planned trial, began in Kenya last year