Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), is setting up an R&D centre and a human vaccine plant in Hyderabad. The two projects would involve an investment of Rs 50 crore, Rs 8 crore for the R&D center and Rs 42 crore for the human vaccines plant.

Dr Amrita Patel, Chairperson of NDDB, told newsmen that the state-of-the-art vaccine plant had been designed to manufacture various human vaccines, including recombinant Hepatitis A and B, measles, diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus. The plant would also produce new combination vaccines once the production of the planned products stabilised. The plant, which would be dedicated to the nation by President APJ Abdul Kalam on October 3, would have a capacity to produce 200 million doses per annum of each vaccine. The President would also inaugurate the R&D facility, she said.

The R&D facility would produce various animal and human vaccines and biologicals. The R&D centre would be engaged in the development of various recombinant products using prokaryotic and eukaryotic vectors. There would also be stress on the development of glycoconjugate vaccines.

“This new facility is in line with NDDB’s philosophy of using technological innovation and our constant search for better ways to serve the people of India,” Patel said.

In association with the Indian Institute of Science, IIL was attempting to launch a DNA rabies vaccine for the first time in the world. This would be in the market in a year’s time. The deoxyribonucleacacid vaccine, which was undergoing clinical trials, would be much cheaper than the existing anti-rabies vaccines in the market and also would not require any cold chain to preserve it. The vaccine was being developed for the treatment of animals. If proved successful, vaccines for the treatment of humans would be introduced subsequently.

Though it was not the job of NDDB to produce human vaccines, IIL had forayed into this arena for the benefit o9f the people. It was producing human vaccines so as to make them available at affordable prices. These human vaccines would first meet the country’s needs before catering to the needs of the rest of the world, Patel said.

ILL had been producing and marketing a tissue culture rabies vaccine, Abhayrab. The company had also set up 1,600 Abhay Clinics in various parts of the country on franchisee model to vend the product. Abhayrab was being administered to the patients at the clinics and the product was not sold through retail medical outlets, Patel said.