Hilleman Laboratories

What Hilleman Laboratories does

Hilleman Laboratories is a Singapore-incorporated joint venture between MSD (Merck & Co.) and the Wellcome Trust, established to develop vaccines for outbreak-prone diseases that disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries. The company operates a small core team (11–50 employees) with operational nodes in Singapore, Gurgaon, and partnered manufacturing sites in Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar, India. Its product pipeline is anchored by three programs: HILLCHOL, an oral cholera vaccine built on a proprietary genetically engineered Hikojima bacterial strain that protects against both Ogawa and Inaba serotypes, commercially launched in India with Bharat Biotech in 2024 with approximately 200 million doses of annual capacity; an investigational Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine using MSD's licensed rVSV platform, funded by CEPI; and an updated Zaire ebolavirus vaccine being co-developed with SK bioscience and IDT Biologika to enable standard refrigerator (2–8°C) storage instead of −70°C.

The company's technology foundation combines MSD's rVSV viral-vector platform, originally validated through the Ervebo Zaire Ebola vaccine, with proprietary bacterial strain engineering and thermostability formulation work. Strategic focus on thermostable, low-cost vaccines for remote and resource-limited settings is a deliberate design constraint embedded across all programs. The bundle of platform access, manufacturing partnerships, and WHO-aligned regulatory positioning is intended to lower both cost-of-goods and cold-chain barriers that historically constrained vaccine access in endemic regions.

Hilleman's business model is grant- and partnership-driven rather than commercially transactional. Primary capital inflows come from CEPI (up to ~$38.5M committed across the two Ebola programs), with additional revenue mechanics from licensing and technology transfer to manufacturing partners (SK bioscience, Bharat Biotech) and emerging product sales to LMIC governments through national immunization programs and, pending, WHO prequalification pathways. End customers are governments of endemic countries (India for cholera, DRC, Uganda, and West African states for Ebola) and global health procurers such as WHO, Gavi, and UNICEF, with pricing structured for affordability rather than margin maximization, consistent with its non-profit mission.

Name

Hilleman Laboratories

Legal name

Hilleman Laboratories Pte. Ltd.

Website

https://hilleman-labs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hilleman Laboratories is a Singapore-based joint venture between MSD and Wellcome Trust that develops affordable vaccines for outbreak-prone diseases affecting low- and middle-income countries, including an oral cholera vaccine (HILLCHOL) and investigational Ebola vaccines built on its rVSV platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vaccines

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Infectious Disease & Pandemic Preparedness Vaccines (emerging pathogens) (HLAAAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pandemic Preparedness & Rapid-Response Vaccines (HLAIAEAF), Seasonal & Endemic Vaccines (e.g., Influenza) (HLAIAEAD), Immunization & Vaccine Delivery Programs (BPADAIAB), Funding, Reimbursement & Vaccines-for-Children (VFC)/Public Purchase Programs (HLAJAHAK)

Keywords

• Vaccine development
• Oral cholera vaccine
• Ebola vaccine research
• Global health vaccines
• Thermostable vaccine technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Gurugram

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Vaccine Development and Manufacturing: Hilleman Laboratories develops and manufactures vaccines for outbreak-prone diseases targeting low and middle-income countries. Revenue is generated through product sales to governments and global health organizations, with pricing structured for affordability in endemic regions.
2. Licensing and Technology Transfer: The company licenses its vaccine technology platforms and provides technical expertise to manufacturing partners like SK bioscience and Bharat Biotech.
3. CEPI Funding for Vaccine Development: Received $8.5 million from CEPI for Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine clinical development and up to $30 million for Zaire ebolavirus vaccine improvements. Funding supports research, manufacturing process improvement, and clinical development activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Core offering

Hilleman Laboratories develops and manufactures affordable vaccines for outbreak-prone diseases that disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries, using proprietary platforms such as the rVSV vector technology (licensed from MSD's Ervebo) and a genetically engineered Hikojima bacterial strain. Its current portfolio includes the HILLCHOL oral cholera vaccine (launched with Bharat Biotech in India), an investigational Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine, and an updated Zaire ebolavirus vaccine program targeting thermostable, low-cost production for endemic regions.

Product overview

Hilleman Laboratories is a Singapore-based joint venture between pharmaceutical company MSD (Merck & Co.) and the British charity Wellcome Trust. The company focuses on developing vaccines for diseases affecting low- and middle-income countries. Its product portfolio includes Hillchol, an oral cholera vaccine developed with Bharat Biotech using a genetically engineered Hikojima strain; an investigational Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine using the rVSV platform; and ongoing Zaire ebolavirus vaccine development in partnership with SK bioscience and IDT Biologika.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hillchol (HILLCHOL®) Oral Cholera Vaccine An oral cholera vaccine built on a single genetically engineered Hikojima bacterial strain that protects against both Ogawa and Inaba cholera serotypes, designed to be more affordable for low- and middle-income countries and manufactured in partnership with Bharat Biotech.
• Bundibugyo Ebola Vaccine Candidate

Quantifiable outcome

• Vaccine stable in standard refrigerators (2-8°C) for months, eliminating ultra-cold storage requirements
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and major.

• MSD (Merck & Co.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 July 2026MSD is a co-founder of Hilleman Laboratories, providing the rVSV platform technology from its Ervebo Ebola vaccine. MSD provides technical consulting, manufacturing expertise, and platform access for new vaccine development against emerging strains.
• Wellcome TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 July 2026Wellcome Trust is a co-founder of Hilleman Laboratories as a British charitable foundation. The joint venture combines MSD's vaccine expertise with Wellcome's global health mission to develop vaccines for outbreak-prone diseases.
• Oxford UniversitysupportingTechnology or Integration · 23 January 2026Oxford University is developing a separate Ebola vaccine using AstraZeneca technology for the Bundibugyo strain outbreak, working in parallel with Hilleman Laboratories' efforts.
• SK biosciencemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2026SK bioscience leads development of updated manufacturing processes for Zaire ebolavirus vaccine alongside German affiliate IDT Biologika. The partnership aims to improve yields and thermostability for better accessibility in low-resource settings.
• IDT BiologikamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2026German affiliate of SK bioscience handling drug product development and manufacturing process improvements for Ebola vaccines, focusing on thermostability and yield optimization.
• Bharat BiotechcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 September 2024Hilleman Laboratories and Bharat Biotech jointly launched the Hillchol oral cholera vaccine in India following Phase III trials. Bharat Biotech handles manufacturing at Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar facilities and is pursuing WHO prequalification for global distribution.
• University of GothenburgsupportingTechnology or Integration · 27 August 2024University of Gothenburg collaborated in the development of the Hillchol oral cholera vaccine using the Hikojima bacterial strain technology.
• Gotovax ABsupportingTechnology or Integration · 27 August 2024Gotovax AB participated in the research collaboration for developing the Hillchol oral cholera vaccine with the Hikojima strain.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bharat Biotech: India-based vaccine developer and manufacturer and Hilleman's co-development and manufacturing partner on Hillchol oral cholera vaccine; both target affordable vaccines for outbreak-prone diseases in LMICs and share the India-based manufacturing footprint.
• SK bioscience: Korean vaccine developer and Hilleman's partner on the CEPI-funded Zaire ebolavirus vaccine improvement program; comparable in scale and emerging-disease vaccine focus, with broader commercial vaccine portfolio.
• Biological E: India-based vaccine manufacturer focused on affordable pediatric and emerging disease vaccines, including WHO-prequalified products. Directly comparable in mission and cost-driven model to Hilleman's LMIC-focused vaccine programs.
• Bavarian Nordic: Develops and manufactures vaccines for infectious diseases including Ebola (it took over Ervebo manufacturing from MSD). Directly relevant as a competing supplier of Ebola vaccines built on related platforms for outbreak response.
• IDT Biologika: German biopharmaceutical manufacturer and Hilleman/SK bioscience's drug-product partner for the Zaire ebolavirus vaccine; comparable as a contract vaccine manufacturer for global health and outbreak response.

Emerging players

• International Vaccine Institute (IVI): International organization dedicated to developing and introducing vaccines for LMICs, particularly against neglected and outbreak-prone diseases. Comparable in global-health vaccine mission, partnership model with manufacturers, and donor-funded structure.
• Emergent BioSolutions: U.S.-based developer of vaccines and therapeutics for emerging infectious diseases including Ebola; relevant as a comparator in the outbreak-response vaccine space though primarily commercial rather than global-health mission driven.
• Oxford University / Jenner Institute (Ebola programs): Developing a competing Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine using AstraZeneca technology in parallel to Hilleman; directly comparable platform mission and target outbreak, representing head-to-head competition for donor funding and country adoption.

Broad incumbents

• Serum Institute of India: World's largest vaccine manufacturer by doses, producing low-cost vaccines (including oral cholera) for UNICEF/Gavi supply to LMICs; competes with Hilleman/Bharat for global cholera and pediatric vaccine tenders despite broader portfolio.

Others

• Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI): Hilleman's primary funder across Ebola programs and a key shaper of equitable access commitments. Not a competitor, but a critical ecosystem counterpart that defines the regulatory and funding pathway for Hilleman's pipeline.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HillemanLab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hilleman Laboratories