Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories partners with Sanofi Healthcare India for vaccine distribution

In a landmark move aimed at enhancing healthcare access across India, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. has announced an exclusive partnership with Sanofi Healthcare India Private Limited (SHIPL). This collaboration is set to promote and distribute key vaccine brands in private markets throughout India, highlighting a significant step towards improving public health.

Under this partnership, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories will gain exclusive rights to promote and distribute several of Sanofi’s established paediatric and adult vaccine brands, including Hexaxim, Pentaxim, Tetraxim, Menactra, FluQuadri, Adacel, and Avaxim 80U. These brands, renowned for their efficacy and trust within the healthcare community, collectively reported sales of approximately INR 426 crores (about USD 51 million) according to IQVIA MAT February 2024 data. Sanofi will maintain ownership, manufacturing, and importation responsibilities for these vaccines into India.

Preeti Futnani, General Manager India for Vaccines at Sanofi, emphasized the timing of the partnership, noting a peak in vaccine confidence across India. Despite this, the need to address the large unvaccinated population remains critical. “To fulfil our long-term commitment to India and expand our geographic reach, we’re pleased to partner with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories for exclusive distribution and promotion. We’re confident this partnership will further bolster our promise of saving millions of lives against vaccine-preventable diseases with improved vaccination coverage,” Futnani stated.

Echoing the sentiment, M.V. Ramana, Chief Executive Officer of Branded Markets (India and Emerging Markets) at Dr. Reddy’s, expressed enthusiasm about leveraging the company’s strengths in promotion and distribution. This strategic move is expected to expand engagement with healthcare professionals and enhance access to Sanofi’s trusted vaccine brands across India. “The portfolio now gives Dr. Reddy’s a strong presence in the vaccine segment, propelling us to the second position among vaccine players in India,” Ramana remarked, highlighting the ambition to serve over 1.5 billion patients by 2030 through strategic collaborations and innovative product offerings.

This exclusive partnership between Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories and Sanofi Healthcare India represents a significant advancement in the healthcare sector, particularly in the vaccine distribution arena. By combining the strengths of two industry leaders, this collaboration is poised to make a considerable impact on India’s vaccination coverage, particularly in underserved areas. It underscores a shared commitment to public health and the role of strategic partnerships in addressing global health challenges.