Hyderabad: Well known Indian drug maker, Aurobindo Pharma has formed a joint venture (JV) with the Hyderabad-based biotechnology startup, Tergene Biotech for developing pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). As per its latest annual report, Tergene is currently working on development of the PCV which is a commercially available vaccine with limited competition and a global branded market of more than USD 6 billion.
Aurobindo Pharma in its annual report mentioned that it has set up a facility to manufacture 50 million dosages of vaccines per annum as it plans to launch its vaccine products commercially in 2018.
Aurobindo will hold a majority stake in the JV (with Targene Biotech) and will fund the product development in a phased manner spanning over three years. Development work for a few more products has commenced towards building a sizable vaccines portfolio. Toxicology studies have been completed. A cGMP pilot plant for clinical lot manufacture is ready and we are now working on clinical trial protocols. The plans are to create infrastructure for 50 million dosage per annum, with the first phase launch being targeted for 25 million doses.
“All these efforts are being synchronised to achieve commercial launch of Aurobindo’s branded products in 2018,” the company said in its annual report. It hasn’t yet disclosed the information related to location of the manufacturing facility.
Founded in 1986 by Mr P V Ramaprasad Reddy, Mr K Nityananda Reddy and a small group of highly committed professionals, Aurobindo Pharma was born off a vision. The company commenced operations in 1988-89 with a single unit manufacturing Semi-Synthetic Penicillin (SSP) at Pondicherry. Aurobindo Pharma became a public company in 1992 and listed its shares in the Indian stock exchanges in 1995. In addition to being the market leader in Semi-Synthetic Penicillins, it has a presence in key therapeutic segments such as neurosciences, cardiovascular, anti-retrovirals, anti-diabetics, gastroenterology and cephalosporins, among others.
