Bharat Biotech signs contract manufacturing deal for Covaxin with Gujarat consortium

Bharat Biotech International has signed a contract manufacturing agreement with the Gujarat Covid Vaccine Consortium (GCVC) pertaining to the drug substance for its Covaxin vaccine against Covid-19.

The Gujarat Covid Vaccine Consortium comprises the Gujarat-government owned Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Hester Biosciences, and Omnibrx Biotechnologies.

As per the agreement, Bharat Biotech will provide the technology for the production of the drug substance for the Covid vaccine.

Bharat Biotech signs contract manufacturing deal for Covaxin with Gujarat Covid Vaccine Consortium. Photo courtesy of DTM/Wikimedia Commons.

Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre will play the role of an advisor and mentor, and will enable the technology transfer from the vaccine development company.

On the other hand, Hester Biosciences will provide the complete infrastructure at its manufacturing plant in Gujarat for the production of the Covaxin drug substance. Omnibrx Biotechnologies will play the role of a technology support partner.

The whole process is facilitated by the Indian government’s Department of Biotechnology. The drug substance is expected to be available from August 2021, which will be delivered to Bharat Biotech for producing Covaxin.

Hester Biosciences has estimated an outlay of INR 40 crores for the contract manufacturing project.

The company said that the proposed production activity at its plant will not affect any manufacturing or marketing forecasts of its on-going business, for the financial year 2021-2022.