Hyderabad-based Shantha Biotechnics has bagged a $340 million (around Rs 1,650 crore) order from Unicef to supply its 'SHAN5', a combination of five vaccines.
Shantha Biotechnics, which was recently acquired by European pharma giant Sanofi Aventis through its vaccine division, Sanofi Pasteur, for about Rs 3,000 crore will supply the vaccines for the period between 2010 and 2012.
"These new contracts illustrate Sanofi Pasteur's public health mission and strategy to develop Shantha as a platform to address the need for high quality affordable vaccination in the international markets," Sanofi Aventis said in a release.
SHAN5 is a combination of five vaccines used for immunising children against diseases- Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B and Hemophilus Influenza B.
It has got the order from Unicef, which is a UN agency dedicated for the welfare of children across the world, for supplying vaccines for the expanded immunisation programme run by it.
"While Shantha Biotechnics is joining the Sanofi-Aventis Group, these contracts perfectly illustrate our ambition to provide the best vaccines at affordable prices to many people around the world," Sanofi Pasteur CEO and President Wayne Pisano said.