HYDERABAD: Vaccine company Biological E Limited (BE) has bagged an order for supplying ComBE Five, a 5-in-1 Liquid Pentavalent Vaccine (LPV) to the Union ministry of health & family welfare.
The Hyderabad-based company will supply the vaccine for over a period of two years. It will be inducted into the Union government’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) and give a boost to Mission Indradhanush, an initiative to empower full immunisation coverage to at least 90 pc children of the country.
“The over Rs 895 crore order placed on BE to be supplier of ‘ComBE Five’ over a period of two years is a testimony to the BE’s commitment to preserving health and well-being while adhering to high standards of quality and safety. It is a momentous occasion for our company and we are proud to be at the forefront of the UIP of India,” Mahima Datla, managing director of the company, said in a release here on Monday.
“It is also a historical moment because ‘Hib’ vaccine is being rolled out all over India. BE has supported the UIP right from its inception as a major vaccine manufacturer. For BE, India is the most significant market and this contract will contribute to BE’s growth. We are very proud to contribute to the Make-in-India initiative by becoming one of the world’s largest vaccine manufacturers of LPV,” she added.
As part of its expansion in the state, BE is investing more than Rs 500 crore in building new facilities over a period of three years to augment its production capacity for vaccines as well as complex generics. This is expected to generate additional employment for over 600 people.
BE’s ComBE Five has received World Health Organization’s pre-qualification approval. The vaccine consists of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib (Haemophilus Influenza Type b) and Hepatitis B.
Founded in 1953, BE is the first private sector biological products company in India and the first pharmaceutical company in South India. Originally incorporated as Biological Products Private Limited, it is a globally recognised vaccine manufacturer and has supplied over two billion doses of vaccine till date all over the world.