Shantha Biotechnics triples vaccine filling capacity

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Shantha Biotechnics the first Indian company to develop, manufacture and market recombinant human healthcare product in India , has opened their new cGMP compliant state of the art high speed vaccine vial filling facility. Dr. J Geeta Reddy, Hon'ble Minister Major Industries, Sugar, Commerce and Export Promotion, Govt. of A.P, inagurated the facility. Sri. B. Sam Bob, IAS, Principal Secretary Department of Industries and Commerce, Govt. of AP, was the Guest of Honour. Also present during the occasion were Sri. N.K. Prasad, IAS, commissioner of for Industries, Govt. of AP and the top officials and senior management team of Shantha Biotechnics.

 

The new high speed vial fill and finish suite located at Shantha Biotechnics sprawling 80,000 square foot vaccine manufacturing facility in Mechal, Hyderabad, will have a capacity to fill and finish 3,00,000 vials a day. Set up at a cost of 250 million rupees the new facility is part of Shantha Biotechnics strategic expansion plans focused on servicing existing and growing market demands for its range of vaccines. Apart from Hepatitis B, DPT-Hep B and Tetanus toxoid, the vaccines under development like Human Pappiloma Virus (HPV) and Rotavirus and the soon to be launched pentavalent vaccine will be formulated and blended in this new facility. The Fill Finish facility has 3 filling lines - a High speed vial filling line, Uniject filling line and Glass pre-fill syringe line. The installed capacities are 150,000, 60,000 and 40,000 vials per day respectively.

 

Speaking on the occasion Varaprasad Reddy, Managing Director, Shantha Biotechnics, Said,"The newly opened facility has given us the potential to triple our vaccine filling capacity from our current level of 1,00,000 vials to 3,00,000 vials per day."  He also announced "Shantha has obtained WHO-Geneva Pre-qualification for its combination of DPT+ Hepatitis-B vaccine 'SHANTETRA'. The approval will bring major growth in vaccine sales to UN Agencies."

 

Shantha is currently focusing its R&D efforts in the development of generic biologicals, novel therapeutic antibodies, proteins and vaccines. Shantha conducts exploratory research in the fields of Oncology, Infectious Diseases and Platform technologies. Most recently, Shantha Biotechnics announced a strategic partnership with Merieux Alliance. In association with Shantha Biotechnics, the European company, which has a strong presence in preventive medicine, aims to create global R&D hub for prophylactic vaccine research in India. Mérieux Alliance on the other hand, will have access to Shantha Biotechnics indigenous properietory research and a branded product base in recombinants.

  

Sourced From: EnRight Media Relations