IIL to launch more human vaccines

Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), is planning to come up with more human vaccines in the next couple of years.

It is also gearing up to go in for the World health Organisation (WHO) pre-qualification accreditation in the near future.

Speaking to mediapersons to announce the launch of 'Elovac-B', a recombinant DNA Hepetitis-B vaccine developed by IIL's Human Biologicals Institute (HBI), here on Sunday, IIL's managing director KV Balasubramaniam said that the institute was currently developing an array of human and combination vaccines.

"While measles and TT vaccines are scheduled to be launched by December 2006, the DPT vaccine would be launched by March 2007. The Hepetitis-A and combination vaccines would take a year from there to enter the market," he said.

He said that they were also planning to apply for the WHO pre-qualification accreditation in the near future for the supply of vaccines to UNICEF and other UN agencies.

"We are making efforts to cater to the domestic as well as the international markets. However, our first priority will be to meet the nation's requirements, and we intend to export only the surplus," Balasubramaniam said.

HBL's state-of-the-art facility at Gachibowli on the outskirts of Hyderabad currently has a capacity to manufacture 100 million doses a year.

On the pricing of the 'Elovac-B' Hepatitis-B vaccine, which was indigenously manufactured at HBL's Hyderabad plant, Balasubramaniam said that the vaccine would be 30-35 per cent cheaper than other vaccines offered by multinational companies.

"The vaccine will be available for Rs 50 per dose at our 2,000-odd 'Abhay Clinics' across the country. Its price at institutions would be decided by tenders," he said.