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Cadila Healthcare, part of Zydus Cadila on Tuesday, said it has entered into an exclusive agreement with Russia-based Pharm-Aid for the technology know-how for Chickenpox vaccine production.
Through this agreement, Zydus gains access to the public and private market segments in the Russian Federation, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, Cadila Healthcare said in a statement.
Chickenpox vaccine also called Varicella is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which leads to a highly contiguous childhood disease.
The vaccine is made from a live but weakened, or attenuated, virus.
"With an absence of assured supply of indigenously manufactured varicella vaccine, this vaccine does not feature currently in the National Immunization Programme of Russia," Cadila Healthcare said.
"The agreement aims to bring in a continuously supply of vaccines which could be included in the critical childhood immunization programme," the company added.
Cadila estimates 3 million doses per annum varicella vaccine in the Russian Federation alone. The exclusive agreement was signed at the BIOTECHMED conference in Gelendzhik, Russia.
Pharm-Aid has been set up by state-owned Russian Immunobiological Company or (Nacimbio) together with UAE-based Ishvan Pharmaceuticals for the localisation of innovative vaccine production in Russia. Ishvan holds around 51 percent of the Pharm-Aid, while the rest is held by Nacimbio.
"We welcome this opportunity to participate in and partner biotech opportunities in the Russian Federation market. In Pharm-Aid and Nacimbio, we have found a reliable partner, representing one of the largest state corporations,” said Dr Sharvil Patel, Managing Director of Zydus Cadila.
"Our partners are the leaders of the global biotech industry that supply their products to many countries," said Kirill Ganin, Director General of Pharm Aid.
"With the co-operation that will bring together partners' experience, our local manufacturing, distribution and managerial capabilities, we will be able to reduce the prime cost of the purchased vaccines and offer the market entirely new better medical products," Ganin said.
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