Biocon Biologics Limited (BBL), a subsidiary of Biocon Ltd,. and Serum Institute Life Sciences Private Limited (SILS), a subsidiary of Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd,. on Thursday announced a strategic alliance under which BBL will receive access to 100 million doses of vaccines per annum for 15 years in return for an equity stake to SILS.

Under the terms of the agreement, BBL will offer approximately 15 per cent stake to SILS, at a post-money valuation of $4.9 billion, for which it will get committed access to 100 million doses of vaccines per annum for 15 years, primarily from SILS’s upcoming vaccine facility in Pune with commercialisation rights of the SILS vaccine portfolio (including Covid-19 vaccines) for global markets, a press statement from Biocon Biologics said.

According to the terms of the agreement, BBL will generate a committed revenue stream and related margins, commencing H2, FY23. Adar Poonawalla will have a Board seat in Biocon Biologics Limited. In addition to vaccines, the strategic alliance will also develop antibodies targeting several infectious diseases like Dengue, HIV, etc. The two companies will enter Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to manufacture and distribute the vaccines and antibodies. Vaccines are a complementary business fit to BBL and provide a new dimension to improving global healthcare.

Most recently, BBL announced a manufacturing and commercialisation partnership in select emerging markets with Boston-based Adagio Therapeutics Inc. for ADG20, a novel Covid-19 antibody therapy. These collaborations support Biocon Biologics’ intent of straddling on infectious and non-communicable diseases in its quest to impact global health.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson, Biocon & Biocon Biologics, said: “This alliance will complement the strengths and resources of the two leading players in vaccines and biologics. Our shared vision of building large scale businesses having global impact makes it a unique and synergistic value creation opportunity.”

Adar Poonawalla, the CEO, Serum Institute of India, commented: “We look forward to complementing each other’s capabilities and capacities in vaccines and biologics, with the objective of addressing inequitable access both in emerging and developed markets for life-saving vaccines and biologics.”

Vaccine R&D division

Biocon Biologics will also establish, at its cost, a vaccine R&D division to support the strategic alliance in developing both vaccines and biologics for communicable diseases. Additionally, it will make available its cell culture and sterile fill and finish capacities, for vaccine production under the strategic alliance. Both companies believe that this is an alliance that can significantly impact on global healthcare through vaccines and biologics. Additional Transaction Details Biocon Biologics would issue shares and receive the contemplated rights through a merger with Covidshield Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (CTPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SILS, on customary closing conditions and receipt of regulatory approvals.

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