The Human Biological Ltd has issued a clarification regarding the story published in Pharmabiz.com on June 16, 2011 under the caption “CADRE approaches AP High Court to stay proceeding of anti-rabies vaccine procurement by APHMHIDC’.

In the clarification, N Anand, general manager (marketing) Human Biologicals Ltd, said:

It is reported that Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution and Education (CADRE), a society registered under Andhra Pradesh Societies Act 2001, has recently filed a public interest litigation (PIL) before the Hon’ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh, to stay all the proceedings related to the procurement of anti-rabies vaccine by Andhra Pradesh Health and Medical Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation (APHMHIDC) for the Government hospitals in the State.  It is also reported that the petitioner has alleged that the authorities ignored the basic facts whether the drugs are manufactured through valid licenses or not and recommending procurement of anti rabies vaccine from Human Biologicals.

In this regard we wish to clarify that IIL possesses all the necessary valid licences to manufacture and market the Human Rabies Vaccine for both Intra Muscular (IM) and Intra Dermal (ID) route of administration.  IIL is supplying the Human Rabies vaccine to APHMHIDC since 2003, at much affordable price.  The entire episode appears to be a mischief of unethical competition, who, unable to compete with us on price front, are dubiously misleading the authorities that we do not have proper licence for manufacture of Human Rabies Vaccine with 1 ml  diluent, to be administered through the ID route.  It may be noted that the Drugs Control Administration (DCA), Tamil Nadu, in whose jurisdiction HBI’s manufacturing facility for Human Rabies Vaccine is located, has confirmed to APHMHIDC and DCA, AP that HBI has valid licence to manufacture and market the Human Rabies Vaccine for both IM and ID route of administration.  Further, the Hon’ble High Court of Tamil Nadu, in the writ petition no. 9174 of 2010 filed by M/s. Chiron Behring Vaccines Pvt. Ltd., has also passed an order confirming that HBI possesses a valid licence to manufacture the Human Rabies Vaccine with 1 ml diluent for ID route administration. It is quite interesting to note that M/s. Chiron Behring is L2 bidder in the tender for supply of Human Rabies Vaccine floated by APHMHIDC.

CADRE has filed the PIL in haste, without proper information on the subject and without going into the facts of the matter.  Accordingly the Hon’ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh was pleased to dismiss the PIL on 15th June 2011, citing that there was no public interest involved.