Aradhya Verma
Bharat Biotech, a worldwide vaccine leader, announced on Tuesday a partnership with Bilthoven Biologicals B.V. (BBio), a Netherlands-based company and a fully-owned subsidiary of Serum Institute of India Private Limited. The collaboration aims to enhance the production and supply security of Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV).
According to the agreement between the two companies, Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) will acquire drug substances for the manufacture of oral polio vaccines, which will be distributed within India and internationally, as stated in an official release.
This partnership will enable BBIL, a global leader in biotherapeutic innovation, and BBio to jointly secure the necessary regulatory approvals and licenses to commercially produce OPVs in India. These vaccines, made from drug substances manufactured at Bilthoven Biologicals in the Netherlands, will be supplied globally.
Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India, expressed his delight at collaborating with Bharat Biotech to bolster the global supply of polio vaccines. “Our goal is to eradicate Polio globally, marking a significant stride towards mitigating the effects of this lethal disease on susceptible populations,” he said.
Dr. Krishna Ella, Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech, noted that oral polio vaccines have been a crucial component of India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) for many years. Bharat Biotech is one of the largest contributors to immunisation programmes worldwide. “This alliance between BBIL and BBio represents a collaboration between vaccine companies, ensuring a secure supply of oral polio vaccines and strengthening the nation’s mission to eradicate polio,” Ella stated.
