Biological Evans Limited has received Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) approval for commercial manufacture of recombinant hepatitis-B vaccine 'Bevac'. GEAC has accorded its permission to BE on June 10. The drug is expected to be launched by the end of third quarter, this year.

The brand 'Bevac' belongs to BE and the vaccine is to be manufactured indigenously by BE at its own facilities and marketed now, N Eswara Reddy, vice-president of BE told Pharmabiz.

It is significant to note that BE had entered into an agreement in January 2000 with Bharat Biotech International Ltd (BBIL) to market the Hepatitis-B vaccine, 'Bevac', which was developed and manufactured by BBIL at its manufacturing facilities and the agreement ended later.

Meanwhile, BE's new vaccines facility which is coming up at Shapoorji Pallonji Biotech Park at Shamirpet, would manufacture combination vaccines like DPT and Hepatitis B. The facility is expected to be commissioned by the end of this year.