Headquartered in Hyderabad, India, Bharat Biotech International Limited stands at the forefront of the biotechnological landscape. Established in 1996 by the visionary duo, Dr. Krishna M. Ella and Mrs. Suchitra Ella, who returned from the United States with a mission to create a company dedicated to manufacturing innovative vaccines and biotherapeutics.

Global Patents and Pioneering Research

From its inception, Bharat Biotech set out to make a global impact. In the year 2000, it achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the world’s first company to file a global patent for the Zika vaccine. To date, the company holds over 160 patents related to biotechnology, a testament to its commitment to innovation.

Revolutionary Typhoid Vaccine

In 2017, Bharat Biotech introduced TYPBAR-TCV, a groundbreaking typhoid vaccine that demonstrated an impressive 87% efficacy. What made it even more remarkable was its status as the world’s first vegetarian and non-bovine typhoid vaccine, developed in collaboration with Oxford University.

Leadership in Vaccine Production

Bharat Biotech’s growth trajectory continued in 2019 when it acquired Chiron Behring from GSK, cementing its position as the largest producer of rabies shots. Another significant achievement came with the launch of the Rotavac-5D vaccine, inaugurated by Hon’ble Vice President M. Venkaih Naidu in New Delhi. By the end of 2019, the company had supplied over 100 million doses of the Rotavac vaccine, making a substantial contribution to global healthcare.

Diverse Product Portfolio

Bharat Biotech boasts a diverse product portfolio, including Biohib, Comvac 3, Regen-D 150, Biogit, SLVRGEN, Biopolio, Typbar, HNVAC, and Rotavac 5B. Their extensive range of vaccines addresses a wide spectrum of viral diseases, including chikungunya, Zika, typhoid, rabies, COVID-19, and more. Their products are supplied to approximately 123 countries, with over 4 million vaccine doses delivered worldwide.

Investments and Collaborations

Bharat Biotech places a strong emphasis on research and development, investing significantly to expand its world-class research capabilities. The company collaborates with prestigious institutions globally, engaging in bioinformatics, molecular epidemiology, molecular biology, clinical research, bacteriology, virology, immunology, formulation, and product development.

Some of its notable collaborations include:

• National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune, India.
• All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) New Delhi, India.
• Jawaharlal Nehru Center of Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, India.
• Stanford University School of Medicine, US.
• Center for Vaccine Development, University of Maryland, US.
• National Institute of Health (NIH) Washington, US.
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Atlanta, US.
• Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India.
• Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India.
• Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology (IGIB) New Delhi, India.

A Heroic Response to COVID-19

In April 2020, Bharat Biotech made headlines by announcing the development of Covaxin, India’s first indigenous (Swadeshi) COVID-19 vaccine. Developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Covaxin is based on the whole virion-inactivated Vero cell-derived platform technology. It received DCGI approval for Phase 1 and 2 human clinical trials in July 2020.

Phase 1 trials involved 375 subjects, and the vaccine demonstrated safety, though 15% of recipients experienced side effects. In Phase 2, 380 participants aged 12-65 were enrolled, with positive results showing humoral immunity and cell-mediated responses, and no serious adverse events reported.

Expanding Production and Global Impact

Covaxin is manufactured at Bharat Biotech’s Genome Valley facility in Hyderabad. In the coming years, the company plans to establish another facility in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, in collaboration with the Odisha Government.

Covaxin has shown efficacy against various strains, including the UK variant, a testament to its robust design. Bharat Biotech’s success has led to requests from numerous countries for the procurement of Covaxin. India has supplied Covaxin to countries such as Sri Lanka, Oman, Bahrain, Mongolia, Myanmar, Maldives, Philippines, and Mauritius.

Additionally, Covaxin has received Emergency Use Listing (EUL) in several countries, including Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Hungary, Brazil, and the UAE.

Conclusion

Bharat Biotech International Limited’s remarkable journey exemplifies India’s prowess in biotechnology and vaccine development. With a rich history, diverse product portfolio, and global collaborations, Bharat Biotech continues to make an enduring impact on public healthcare worldwide, particularly with its groundbreaking contribution to the fight against COVID-19 through Covaxin.