Serum Institute refutes claim made by Shanta Biotechnics

PUNE: Vaccine manufacturer Serum Institute of India Ltd (SRI) today strongly refuted the claim made by Hyderabad-based Shanta Biotechnics regarding the launch of the country's first indigenously developed 4-in-1-combination vaccine in India. Serum Institute's indigenous vaccine DTP and Hepatitis B combination vaccine is sold under the brand name Q-Vac.

Dr Cyrus Poonawalla, chairman and managing director, Serum Institute of India said his company was the first Indian company to have launched the country's first indigenously developed 4-in-1 combination.

" On July 18, the National Control Laboratory, Kasauli issued the release of the vaccine to Serum Institute of India whereas the release of commercial production to Shanta Biotechnics was done a month later on August 19 for the same vaccine," said Dr Poonawalla.

Because of the deluge of rain, we delayed the actual launch and dispatch of our vaccines as can be seen from the copies of company invoices in the first week of August. On August 10, Serum Institute of India has sold over 100,000 doses of the combination vaccine, Dr Poonawalla said. He claimed the company has more than half a million doses in stock across the country whereas one cannot find the other company's products on the shelves of chemists.

" With Q-Vac immunization for a child will be less painful as the number of pricks will be reduced to only three instead of the six administered today. Q-Vac is priced at Rs. 50 per dose, which is one fourth of the available vaccines in the Indian market," Dr Poonawalla said.

The three doses of Q-Vac provide protection against four diseases - Diptheria, Pertussis (whooping cough), Tetanus and Hepatitis-B. Even as combination vaccines are available in India through multinational companies such as GSK, their high prices kept the vaccine out of the reach of the majority. For example, separate injections of DTP and Hepatitis-B cost Rs. 45 for both the vaccines and the MNC combination costs Rs. 225 per dose.

Dr Poonawalla said both the DTP and Hepatitis -B injections of his company have been qualified by WHO. Serum Institute is the fourth global player in combination vaccines and has invested Rs. 50 crore for the development of the combination vaccine.

The Rs. 600 crore company has already begun work on the pentavalent vaccine that is expected to hit the market in the year 2006. Pentavalent vaccine includes five antigens. The vaccine provides protection against Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Heptatitis-B and other diseases produced by Haemophilus Influenza type b (Hib).