Bharat Biotech to supply Rotavirus vaccine at US$1.00

Vaccine maker Bharat Biotech will supply India’s first indigenously developed diarrhea vaccine to global markets and UN procurement agencies at a cut-price of $1, making it the cheapest vaccine manufactured so far globally, the company said on Monday. Rotovac – the vaccine is currently under Phase III clinical trials and will be commercialized by 2015, thereby improving access and affordability to poorer nations. According to the Centre for Disease Control, about 500,000 child deaths are reported each year due to rotavirus diarrhea. “Bharat Biotech strongly backs the initiative by GAVI to make vaccines affordable and available for countries worldwide. In 2001, I made a commitment to the Gates Foundation to develop and supply a novel rotavirus vaccine at US$1 a dose,” Dr. Krishna Ella, Chairman and Managing Director said. The company has an installed capacity of 300 million doses annually and will supply the vaccine to the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation...