Shantha Biotechnics Pvt Ltd, an arm of Sanofi Pasteur, has started commercial production at its new vaccine production facility in the special economic zone of Muppireddipalli near here.
This was announced by its Non-Executive Chairman K I Varaprasad Reddy at a press conference held here on Tuesday.
The plant was set up with an investment of ₹250 crore and has got regulatory approvals from the World Health Organisation and Indian authorities, according to Mahesh Bhalgat, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of Shantha.
The plant will be used initially for the production of its five-in-one vaccine, Shan5, besides cholera vaccine. “This year’s target is to produce 10 million doses of vaccine in the new plant but it could be scaled up to produce up to 30 million doses going forward,’’ he said. It will be used to cater to the requirements of Sanofi as well domestic market.
Shantha’s another plant in Medchal has a capacity of producing 400 million doses of vaccines.
An insulin plant being set up with ₹450 crore by the company here is expected to be ready in about a year.
“We have a healthy R&D pipeline, the details of which will be shared later,’’ Bhalgat said, adding that the global demand for vaccines was continuing to grow.