INTRODUCTION
Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. is now the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by number of doses produced and sold globally (more than 1.5 billion doses) which includes Polio vaccine as well as Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hib, BCG, r-Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccines. It is estimated that about 65% of the children in the world receive at least one vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute. Vaccines manufactured by the Serum Institute are accredited by the World Health Organization, Geneva and are being used in around 170 countries across the globe in their national immunization programs, saving millions of lives throughout the world.
Serum Institute of India is ranked as India’s No. 1 biotechnology company, manufacturing highly specialized life saving biologicals like vaccines using cutting edge genetic and cell based technologies, antisera and other medical specialties.
Serum Institute of India was founded in 1966 by Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla with the aim of manufacturing life-saving immuno-biologicals, which were in shortage in the country and imported at high prices. Thereafter, several life-saving biologicals were manufactured at prices affordable to the common man and in abundance, with the result that the country was made self-sufficient for Tetanus Anti-toxin and Anti-snake Venom serum, followed by DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis) group of Vaccines and then later on MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) group of vaccines.
The Philanthropic philosophy of the company still not only exists but has been proliferated to bring down the prices of newer vaccines such as Hepatitis-B vaccine, Combination vaccine etc., so that not only Indian’s, but the entire under-privileged children of the world are protected from birth onwards.
A path-breaking acquisition – Bilthoven Biologicals, Netherlands
Serum Institute of India made its first International acquisition by acquiring Bilthoven Biologicals, a bioengineering and pharmaceutical company from The Netherlands Government on 29th June 2012. The takeover ensures access to technology and expertise for making the IPV (Injectable Polio Vaccine, Salk), earlier possessed by only 3 other vaccine manufacturers. Bilthoven Biologicals is spread over 40 acres with an installed manufacturing capacity of over 20 million doses of vaccines annually. The production facilities are State-of-art and fully compliant with cGMP and biopharmaceutical requirements.
The acquisition enhances Serum Institute’s offerings in the pediatric vaccine segment and with this Serum Institute hopes to make a significant contribution to the eradication of Polio from the World. The takeover also provides an important manufacturing base in Europe, with access to strategic European Markets.
