Shantha plans 3 new vaccines

Shantha Biotechnics Private Ltd, a Rs 90 crore company, is progressing with its new expansion plans to introduce DTP, Hepatitis B and BIB pentavalent vaccines by the end of current calendar year.

The company is also in the process of developing a series of new vaccines. The market size for this combination vaccine in India can be to the tune of Rs 20-25 crore.

"Globally, the market size will be close to $50 million," Khalil Ahmed, executive director of the company, said.

The vaccines through Unicef were likely to reach about 60 countries and the company would market the product in another 15 countries, he said.

KI Varaprasad Reddy, managing director of Shantha Biotechnics, said the company was expecting to achieve WHO prequalification to supply tetravalent vaccines by July 2006 and was hoping to get the same for pentavalent vaccine by mid 2007.

Shantha was also filing an IND for monoclonal anti-bodies in the US by August 2006. By early 2007, the company will initiate trails on monoclonal antibodies and is working on four monoclonal antibodies mainly focusing on cancer and genetic disorders. Most of these would be ready by next year.

"More over, Shantha is also planning to develop a single dose Hepatitis B vaccine, which will not only reduce the pain but also ensure that the subjects do not miss the doses, as it happens with the currently available vaccines. It may take another 2-3 years to launch this vaccine" Reddy added.

The company is carrying out animal toxicity studies on Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA) and the end of current year would develop this product, he revealed.

It is developing cholera and typhoid vaccines in collaboration with International Vaccine Institute (IVI) of Korea and rotavirus vaccine in collaboration with NIH.

The company is also expanding its current facilities at Hyderabad by adding three new block including facilities for mammalian cell cultural and warehouses to stock vaccines.

The company, on an expansion plan, is scouting for about 80 acres land near Hyderabad, exclusively for contract manufacturing for international markets.

If AP government speeds up work on the proposed special economic zone for biotechnology industry in an estimated area of 414 acres near Hyderabad, Shantha is open to acquire land in it, he said.