Bharat Biotech, SII arm Bilthoven Biologicals collaborate to produce, supply Oral polio vaccine
Through this collaboration, BBIL and BBio will jointly obtain the regulatory approvals and licenses required to commercially manufacture OPVs in India for global supplies from drug substances manufactured in the Netherlands at Bilthoven Biologicals.
Hyderabad: Bharat Biotech and Bilthoven Biologicals B.V., (BBio), a wholly owned subsidiary of Serum Institute of India Private Limited, based in Netherlands, has announced a collaboration, to further strengthen the production and supply security of Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV).
A requisite Agreement has been signed between BBIL and BBio wherein BBIL will procure drug substances for the production of oral polio vaccines to be supplied within India and globally.
Through this collaboration, BBIL and BBio will jointly obtain the regulatory approvals and licenses required to commercially manufacture OPVs in India for global supplies from drug substances manufactured in the Netherlands at Bilthoven Biologicals.
Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India, said, "We are delighted to join forces with Bharat Biotech to reinforce the global supply of polio vaccines. Our vision is to eradicate Polio worldwide, taking a crucial step towards reducing the impact of this deadly disease on vulnerable populations."
Dr. Krishna Ella, Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech, said, "Oral polio vaccines have been an integral part of the Govt of India’s Universal Immunisation Program (UIP) for several decades, with Bharat Biotech being one of the largest suppliers to immunisation programs across the world. This collaboration between BBIL and BBio exemplifies cooperation between vaccine companies, ensuring a secure supply of oral polio vaccines and fortifies the nation’s mission to eradicate polio."
Read also: Bharat Biotech, University of Sydney collaborate to advance vaccine research initiatives
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease that largely affects children under 5 years of age. The virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (e.g. contaminated water or food) and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and cause paralysis.
