Institute of Serums and Vaccines, Prague

The Institute of Serums and Vaccines, Prague (ÚSOL), was a prominent Czechoslovak state-owned enterprise and research institution specializing in the development and production of vaccines, serums, and diagnostic preparations. Established as an independent entity in 1952, it played a critical role in national and regional immunization programs, producing essential vaccines for polio, measles, and tetanus. The institute was also a major producer of human plasma-derived products and diagnostic reagents for clinical use. Following the Velvet Revolution, the institute was privatized as SEVAC a.s. in 1992, and its manufacturing assets were subsequently acquired by international pharmaceutical companies, including Baxter. Today, its legacy continues through successor facilities that remain integral to the global vaccine supply chain.