Shilpa Medicare, Cadila ink pact for production of ZyCoV-D vaccine

Hyderabad: Shilpa Medicare Limited, via its wholly owned subsidiary, Shilpa Biologicals Pvt Ltd (SBPL), has entered into a definitive agreement with Cadila Healthcare Ltd (CHL) for production-supply of the ZyCov-D vaccine drug substance from its integrated Biologics R&D cum Manufacturing center at Dharwad, Karnataka.

The targeted production of the ZyCoV-D vaccine from this facility will be mutually agreed upon by both parties.

ZyCov-D is the first DNA plasmid vaccine in the world for human use developed indigenously by CHL against the Covid-19 virus. It is also the first COVID-19 vaccine for adolescents in the 12-18 age group, besides the adult population and is a needle-free vaccine administered using The PharmaJet a needle free applicator, which ensures painless intradermal vaccine delivery. CHL will transfer the ZyCoV-D technology to SBPL.

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Under the agreement, SBPL will be responsible for manufacture of the Drug substance of the vaccine, while CHL is responsible for filling/packaging/distribution/marketing of the vaccine in its marketing territories. The biologics business has been identified as a strategic growth engine by SML and it has made significant investments in setting up a high end, flexible biologics facility in SBPL.

"This facility at Dharwad would cater to the requirements of the fast-growing biologics field, that include the DNA vaccine, adenoviral, subunit vaccines, monoclonal antibodies & fusion proteins," the company said in a BSE filing.