Serum Institute launches India's first indigenous HIB vaccine

Serum Institute of India Ltd has launched its indigenously developed HIB Vaccine. It has a capacity to produce over 100 million doses of the vaccine. Serum Institute will supply this new age HIB vaccine to GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation), PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) and UNICEF

According to Dr Cyrus Poonawalla, chairman, Serum Institute of India Ltd, "With HIB vaccine, Serum Institute achieves one more milestone in its quest for providing high quality vaccines at affordable prices. Serum Institute is the only indigenous manufacturers' of HIB vaccine in India today unlike other vaccine manufacturers who import the bulk. HIB vaccine is fully manufactured in India. Serum Institute has invested significantly in R&D and these efforts are yielding results."

Serum Institute will supply the HIB vaccine at a low price compared to the MNC prices. Serum Institute has established its credentials, by providing quality vaccines to global healthcare agencies, thereby reducing mortality rates due to illnesses like Measles. The vaccine will also be available as SiiHIB Pro.

According to reports, HIB vaccines are used for prevention of infection caused by invasive HIB disease, which is amongst the leading causes of infant mortality in the developing world. HIB vaccine is given to infants along with DPT or alone. Earlier efforts by UNICEF for HIB immunization met with little success as the prices were very high, which led to limited access of the vaccine in many poor countries. Today infant mortality due to the invasive HIB disease is an important issue for WHO.

Maharashtra signs MoUs with three banks for biotech projects

In order to provide timely and adequate credits and other financial needs to the entrepreneurs for setting up biotech projects in Maharashtra, the state government has signed three Memorandums of Understandings (MoUs) with three leading banks, State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and
Yes Bank.

Dr Kshatrapati Shivaji, development commissioner, (industries) signed these MoUs on behalf of government of Maharashtra and Narayanan Raja, chief general manager, on behalf of the SBI, R K Gupta, general manager, on behalf of the PNB and Sunil Gulati, group president, on behalf of the Yes Bank in presence of Ashok Chavan, minister of industries, government of Maharashtra, Rana Jagjitsinh, minister of state for industries, government of Maharashtra, VK Jairath, secretary (industries), and Rajiv Jalota, CEO, MIDC.

Ashok Chavan, minister of industries, government of Maharashtra, said that biotechnology is one of the most important and rapid growing and potential sectors, for which the state government has given top priority in the state policy. These MoUs are expected to ease out the key concern of getting adequate and timely credit to biotechnology entrepreneurs in the state, especially to the small entrepreneurs for biotechnology projects.

VK Jairath, secretary (industries), said, "Due to fast changing market appetite from inorganic and organic / biotech products, biotech has assumed greater importance and there by opened up huge market opportunities in India and abroad."

GVK Bio in JV with INC Research

GVK Biosciences has entered into a 50:50 joint venture (JV) with Raleigh-based contract research company INC Research to set up INC GVK BIO Private Limited. The JV will establish a dedicated resource capability to offer phase I-IV clinical development programmes in India for INC's global clients, according to a press release. INC Research would conduct its global clinical trials in oncology, CNS, infectious diseases and pediatrics involving phase I-IV studies.

"The joint venture provides an opportunity for GVK BIO to gain access to INC Research's global reach while leveraging on its India-based Clinical Research capabilities," said GV Sanjay Reddy, chief executive officer, GVK BIO.

"Our international base of operations has expanded strategically this last year, with the addition of several new offices in Europe and now India. This joint venture will allow INC Research to further solidify and expand its presence within the world CRO market," said Kelvin Logan, president of INC Research Europe.

Centre enhances S&T plan outlay to Rs 25 crore in 10th Plan

"In order to boost the R&D activities in the country, the central government has enhanced the S&T plan outlay of scientific departments/agencies from Rs 12,022 crore in the 9th Plan to Rs 25,243 crore in 10th Plan and plans to increase it further in 11th Plan," said Kapil Sibal, Union minister for science and technology and earth sciences, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on March 9, 2007.

The minister said various initiatives have been taken by the government to encourage investment on R&D both in institutions and industry through several measures. These measures include higher allocation to scientific research, setting up of new institutions for science education and research, creation of centers of excellence and facilities in emerging and frontline areas in academic and national institutes, strengthening infrastructure for R&D in universities, encouraging public-private R&D partnerships, grants for industrial R&D projects, income tax relief on R&D expenditure, weighted tax deduction for sponsored research, custom duty exemption on goods imported for use in Government funded R&D projects, tax holidays and national awards for outstanding R&D.

The "Science & Technology Policy-2003" envisages an implementation strategy for revitalization of the S&T institutions in the country. Some of the key elements of the strategy include: S&T governance and investment; Strengthening of infrastructure; New funding mechanisms; Human resource development; and International S&T cooperation. The expenditure incurred on R&D constitutes 0.8 per cent of India's GDP.

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