Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAn Iranian pharmaceutical and biological research institute focused on vaccines, antisera, biotechnology, and nanomedicine.
Last updated August 24, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
The Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute is an Iranian pharmaceutical and biological research organization headquartered in the Hesarak district of Karaj. Established in 1924 during the reign of Reza Shah, it was created as a national center for combating infectious diseases affecting Iran's livestock. Its early mandate centered on veterinary public health, including the development and production of vaccines, antigens, and sera for diseases that threatened cattle, sheep, and other domestic animals. The institute became an important part of Iran's biological-products infrastructure during the twentieth century. In the 1930s, its work addressed a succession of animal-health emergencies, including cattle plague, anthrax, sheep pox, livestock gangrene, and cattle pasteurellosis. French veterinarian Louis Delpy is associated with the institute's efforts to overcome a cattle-plague epidemic in the region in 1932. The institute later expanded beyond veterinary products. By 1941 it was producing sera and vaccines for human diseases such as diphtheria and tetanus, and its portfolio subsequently included products associated with polio, measles, rubella, and other infectious diseases. Razi's activities encompass research, development, manufacturing, quality control, and laboratory services. It is particularly known for antivenom products made from snake and scorpion venoms. These products support the treatment of envenomation and have been used in regional settings where medically important venomous species differ from those commonly studied in Europe or North America. The institute also hosts reference pharmaceutical laboratories with regional or state-level functions, giving it a role beyond conventional product manufacturing. Biotechnology became a major institutional priority in the 1990s. A biotechnology department was established in 1992 and strengthened in 1997. Later work included recombinant vaccines, genetically engineered antigens, diagnostic kits, and the production of transgenic animals for research and biotechnology applications. In more recent years, Razi has emphasized biotechnology and nanomedicine alongside its established vaccine and serum programs. The institute maintains or has established regional branches in Arak, Ahvaz, Kerman, Mashhad, Marand, and Shiraz. According to the referenced institutional history, its annual output in 2010 reached approximately 1.7 billion doses across 57 types of vaccines, sera, and antigens; the available material does not specify the accounting basis or product-by-product breakdown for that figure. In 2021, Razi developed Razi Cov Pars, a COVID-19 vaccine candidate associated with Iran's pandemic response. Razi is best understood as a national research and production institution rather than a consumer-facing pharmaceutical brand. Its significance rests on domestic biological-product capacity, veterinary disease control, human vaccine and serum production, antivenom expertise, laboratory reference functions, and the development of biotechnology capabilities. The available reference material does not establish a current corporate ownership structure, legal status, chief executive, official website, or public listing.
History
The Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute was established in 1924 as an Iranian national center for controlling epidemics among domestic animals. Its founding purpose reflected the importance of livestock to public health, food security, and the national economy. The facility was built in the Hesarak area of Karaj, which remains its principal location. During its first decade, the institute concentrated on veterinary biological products and epidemic response. In 1932, French veterinarian Louis Delpy helped direct work addressing a cattle-plague epidemic in the region. The institute's recorded production and research milestones during the 1930s included programs for anthrax in 1933, sheep pox in 1935, livestock gangrene in 1936, and cattle pasteurellosis in 1937. These efforts established Razi as a central Iranian institution for animal disease prevention and biological manufacturing. The scope of its work expanded into human medicine during the 1940s. By 1941, the institute was producing sera and vaccines for diphtheria and tetanus. Its later production history includes polio in 1970 and measles and rubella in 1987. The institute therefore developed from a primarily veterinary facility into a combined veterinary and human biological-products organization. The facility also experienced wartime changes in use. The referenced history states that it was used as a Soviet military base during the Second World War. The available material does not provide further details about the duration or operational extent of that use. Biotechnology became an important institutional field in the 1990s. Razi established a biotechnology department in 1992 and expanded that department's capabilities in 1997. This development supported work on recombinant vaccines, genetically engineered antigens, diagnostic kits, and transgenic animals. The institute's modern research profile consequently extends beyond conventional vaccine production into biotechnology and nanomedicine. Razi is especially recognized for its antivenom sera, including products derived from snake and scorpion venoms. The institute's antivenom expertise has also attracted international or regional use. The referenced account states that NATO forces used some Razi antivenom products during the Afghanistan war because venomous snakes native to Afghanistan had not been researched to the same extent in the United States or Europe. This description identifies the products' regional relevance but does not provide procurement details or quantify use. The institute has developed a network of regional branches in Arak, Ahvaz, Kerman, Mashhad, Marand, and Shiraz. In 2010, its reported annual production reached 1.7 billion doses across 57 kinds of vaccines, sera, and antigens. The source does not clarify whether the figure counts individual doses, units released, or total production capacity. In 2012, the institute's activities included production of transgenic animals, recombinant-vaccine development through genetic engineering, antigen development, and diagnostic-kit production for medical and veterinary laboratories. In the COVID-19 pandemic period, Razi developed Razi Cov Pars, a COVID-19 vaccine candidate recorded in the institute's 2021 production timeline. The available reference does not provide sufficient information here about regulatory authorization, commercial scale, or subsequent market status. Overall, the institute remains a significant Iranian center for biological research and manufacturing, combining veterinary and human vaccines, sera, antivenoms, biotechnology, nanomedicine, and reference laboratory functions. Ownership, executive leadership, legal incorporation, and current commercial status are not established by the supplied material.
- 2021
Razi Cov Pars COVID-19 vaccine
[1]The institute developed Razi Cov Pars, a COVID-19 vaccine candidate.
- 2012
Genetic-engineering and diagnostic expansion
[1]Reported activities included transgenic-animal production, recombinant vaccines, engineered antigens, and diagnostic kits for medical and veterinary laboratories.
- 2010
Reported large-scale biological-products output
[1]The institute was reported to produce approximately 1.7 billion doses of 57 types of vaccines, sera, and antigens annually.
- 1998
Aleppo-boil program
[1]The production timeline records work associated with Aleppo boil.
- 1997
Biotechnology capabilities strengthened
[1]The institute expanded its biotechnology department and related research capacity.
- 1992
Biotechnology department founded
[1]Razi established a dedicated biotechnology department.
- 1987
Measles and rubella production
[1]The institute's recorded product history includes measles and rubella vaccines.
- 1970
Polio production
[1]The production timeline records polio-related vaccine work.
- 1941
Expansion into human vaccines and sera
[1]Razi began producing sera and vaccines for diphtheria and tetanus.
- 1937
Cattle-pasteurellosis program
[1]The institute recorded work on cattle pasteurellosis.
Products and positioning
National Iranian research and production institute for vaccines, sera, antivenoms, biotechnology products, and reference laboratory services.
Veterinary biologics · 1924
Veterinary vaccines and antigens
Razi's original and continuing focus includes biological products for livestock disease control. Its historical production timeline covers cattle plague, anthrax, sheep pox, livestock gangrene, cattle pasteurellosis, and other veterinary needs. These products support prevention and surveillance of infectious diseases affecting domestic animals and form the foundation of the institute's national role.
Human biologics · 1941
Human vaccines and sera
The institute expanded into human medical products by at least 1941, when its recorded output included diphtheria and tetanus vaccines and sera. Later milestones include polio, measles, and rubella programs. The supplied material does not provide a current product catalogue or identify which individual human products remain in production.
Antivenoms
Snake and scorpion antivenom sera
Razi is particularly associated with antivenom sera made using snake and scorpion venoms. These biological products are intended for treatment of envenomation and are relevant to regional species profiles. The institute's antivenoms have reportedly been used in Afghanistan-related operations, where local venomous species were considered insufficiently studied by some Western research systems.
Biotechnology · 1992
Recombinant vaccines and engineered antigens
Following the creation and later strengthening of its biotechnology department, Razi pursued recombinant vaccines and genetically engineered antigens. These activities represent a shift from traditional biological-product manufacturing toward molecular biotechnology. The available material does not identify specific recombinant products or their regulatory status.
Laboratory diagnostics · 2012
Diagnostic kits
Razi has developed diagnostic kits for medical and veterinary laboratories. This work complements its vaccine and serum programs by supporting disease identification, laboratory surveillance, and biological research. No individual kit names, indications, or current distribution information are specified in the supplied references.
COVID-19 vaccine · 2021
Razi Cov Pars
Razi Cov Pars is a COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by the institute and recorded in its 2021 production history. The supplied reference confirms development but does not establish the candidate's final authorization, commercial availability, effectiveness data, or current status.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/razi-vaccine-and-serum-research-institute · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled