Two Central Public-Sector Entreprises (PSEs) have entered into a pact with Bharat Biotech which developed Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, along with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to make vaccines jabs in India. 

Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) and Bharat Immunologicals and Biologicals Corporation (BIBCOL) have entered into technology transfer pacts with Bharat Biotech to develop the vaccine locally in a major boost to India’s vaccination drive. The two PSUs plan to start the production of vaccines by September 2021.

The Mumbai-based Haffkine Institute For Training, Research & Testing of the government is also likely to start production of Covaxin jabs from November 2021.  

The development comes close on the heels of NITI Aayog’s announcement that Bharat Biotech is willing to enter into technology transfer deals with other companies to manufacture the vaccine.  

“People say that Covaxin be given to other companies for manufacturing. I am happy to say that Covaxin manufacturing company (Bharat Biotech) has welcomed this when we discussed it with them. Under this vaccine, live virus is inactivated & this is done only in BSL3 labs,” said NITI Aayog member Dr VK Paul during a press conference earlier. 

“Not every company has this. We give an open invitation to companies who want to do this. Companies that want to manufacture Covaxin, should do it together. Govt will assist so that capacity is increased,” he added.

IIL is the market leader in veterinary and human biologicals in India. The Hyderabad-based company is a major player in the human vaccine market in India, focusing on the pediatric and rabies vaccine segments. It was earlier reported that IIL entered into a cross-continental collaboration with the Griffith University of Australia to develop Covid-19 vaccine.

BIBCOL is an Uttar Pradesh-based biotechnology company. The company currently manufactures and produces a range of pharmaceuticals products such as Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV Vaccine), Zinc Tablet & Diarrhea Management Kit etc.