Bharat Biotech ties up with Serum Institute subsidiary for production and supply of polio vaccines
Manufacturer of biotherapeutics and vaccines Bharat Biotech has established a partnership with Bilthoven Biologicals B.V., a Netherlands-based subsidiary of Serum Institute of India. The partnership intends to increase the manufacturing and supply security of oral polio vaccinations (OPV), which can cause irreversible paralysis and are highly contagious. The two biotech firms will purchase pharmaceutical ingredients from Bilthovan to manufacture oral polio vaccinations that they will distribute both domestically in India and internationally. Together, they will seek licences and regulatory clearances to use drug ingredients produced at Bilthoven Biologicals in the Netherlands to commercially manufacture OPVs in India. The partnership strengthens the country's effort to eradicate polio and serves as an example of teamwork amongst vaccine companies. It also guarantees a stable supply of oral polio vaccines. In 1978, India started polio vaccination campaigns and joined the international campaign to end the disease. In 1995, the government started the 'Pulse Polio' campaign, also known as the Universal Immunisation Programme. In March 2014, the World Health Organisation declared India to be polio-free following a tremendous eradication effort.
