India emerging as leading vaccine manufacturer

FE Team | Published: April 17, 2011 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Edison (New Jersey), Apr 16 (PTI): India has emerged as one of the leading vaccine manufacturer in recent times, producing 60 per cent of the global health vaccines. India had revenue of USD 665 million in this space which was expected to reach USD 800 million soon, said Steven H Myint, chairman of Chennai- based Green Signal Bio Pharma Private Limited. The Indian vaccine market is forecast to grow at 23 per cent from 2009-10 through 2011-12 registering revenues around USD two billion. Vaccines have emerged as one of the growth drivers of the global pharmaceutical industry, he said. In an interview, the distinguished scientist said that scare of the avian influenza, bioterrorism organisms and new emerging infections like SARS and the introduction of cancer and rotavirus vaccines have led to phenomenal growth in the vaccine market in the last few years. Exports have a major share in the Indian vaccine market, with 70 per cent vaccines being exported. Of the total domestic market, the private sector's share stood at USD 120 million or at 40 per cent. Top vaccine manufacturers have a reasonably diverse product portfolio which has led to reduced competition in the Indian market. The Indian market includes foreign majors like GSK, Sanofi, Eli Lily, and Merck to name some. But the scene is essentially dominated by Indian players such as Green Signal Bio Pharma based in Chennai who have gained significant expertise in manufacturing practices for macromolecules with quality but at low cost and have capitalized on the rising global demand for affordable vaccines, he said. The global vaccine market grew at a healthy 28 per cent during 2005-08 and reached a size of approximately USD 20 billion. Growth from the sales of vaccines has surpassed the growth in many traditional pharma areas of vaccine manufacturers such as GSK, Merck, Wyeth and Sanofi Aventis. Globally, the US recorded the largest share in the vaccine market at around 43 per cent and Europe is the second largest vaccine market and source of production. However, it is estimated that in the future more opportunities for manufacture and sales of vaccines will emerge from developing nations such as India and China, he said. Prof. Myint, an eminent senior board level physician with experience in public health, academia and biopharmaceutical industries is a well - known strategist, planner and organisational leader supported by outstanding research and analytical skills. He took over as chairman of Green Signal Pharma Private Limited from its founder-president N Sundar Paripoornan in Jan 2011. Myint said his company would go in for manufacturing R & D in-house to improve vaccines including introducing circumvention of the 'cold chain'. It would also partner with companies across the globe to help develop new vaccines. "India is growing faster than China in the area of biopharmaceuticals and we will introduce new vaccines with the help of new technology. Our company had lined up partners and would be ready to go into action in Singapore and another one within India to help us with technology to diversifying into newer areas," he said. "We are also developing plans with the Nigerian Government and with a major university in Nigeria where PhD students are involved in tuberculosis research projects for making biomarkers for TB vaccines," he said. "The company will work closely with bodies such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to get grants to do research," he added. "Within 18 months we will have that next vaccine being produced for the market. We could be a hub for the whole world not only Asia because of our strategic location in India," he said. The company plans to work in partnership with the Gates Foundation in the TB vaccine project. Green Signal Bio Pharma has offered to give free vaccines for the coming years to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for use in poorer countries, he said. With a number of blockbuster vaccines in pipeline, the market is expected to explode in future with vaccines expected to grow faster than any other therapy area at around 13 per cent during 2009-12, registering highest growth rate among all the therapy areas, he said. Successful development and launch of a vaccine is a highly cash intensive work. Anything between USD 500 million to USD one billion may be incurred in successfully launching a vaccine in the market, and failure in any of the clinical trial phases would leave the company with substantial loss. This risk is mitigated to a large extent by assured support from Government and NGOs in the form of immunization financing. Vaccine developers have to contend with the lack of infrastructure and facilities for conducting large-scale clinical trials in developing countries. In phase III trials, the developer should not only manufacture the vaccine in relatively small amounts needed for the trials, but should also be prepared to manufacture the vaccine for wider use as soon as possible in case the vaccine is found effective. However, developers face considerable risks by investing large amounts in manufacturing capacity before the trials conclude, since the vaccine may yet be proven ineffective, he said.