Bharat Biotech, WHO to discuss hepatitis B vaccine ban next month

G Naga Sridhar Updated - November 15, 2017 at 07:45 PM.

Vaccine-maker Bharat Biotech International Ltd will discuss the ban on its hepatitis B vaccine, Revac B with the World Health Organisation next month.

“The WHO officials are coming next month and we have things in place to tackle the issue,” Ms Suchitra Ella, Joint Managing Director, Bharat Biotech told Business Line on the sidelines of Partnership Summit 2012 here on Friday.

Last month, WHO had suspended the procurement of the hepatitis B vaccine, Revac B, from the Hyderabad-based company.

In an alert, the WHO said the decision to suspend procurement of vaccine was taken after finding ‘eficiencies' in good manufacturing practices and quality management systems in a site audit of facility conducted in September last year.

It had also terminated the on-going pre-qualification process of all other vaccines of the company which were under consideration for the United Nations procurement.

“The suspension is only temporary and not-related to the quality aspects of the vaccine. As such, we don't see any need for serious concern,” she said.

On the impact of the WHO decision on the revenue of the company, she said, “It is very little as it concerns only one product.”

>nagsridhu@thehindu.co.in

Published on January 13, 2012 16:29