National   

Hepatitis-B vaccine price slashed

MUMBAI JULY 3. The Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) has announced a 40 per cent cut in the price of Hepatitis-B vaccines in a bid to facilitate vaccination for children from economically backward families at an affordable cost.

The SII Chairman, Cyrus Poonwalla, said here that the price cut in Gene Vac-B was achieved through indigenous manufacturing combined with larger capacity utilisation of its plant. The 10 ml vial, which was priced at Rs. 1,400, will now be available at Rs. 875, while the paediatric single dose of 0.5 ml has been slashed to Rs. 55 from Rs. 90.

Hepatitis-B vaccine market size is estimated to be about Rs. 200 crores. Dr. Poonwalla said the production facility at Pune was the first in the entire developing world to get recognition as a pre-qualified supplier of vaccines to United Nations agencies and the World Health Organisation in 1993.

Today, the company is one of the most preferred sources of Diphtheria Tetanus Pertussis and Measles Mumps Rubella group of vaccines used in over 130 countries, protecting at least one out of every two newborn babies.

— UNI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• BJP begins damage control exercise
• 'Inflammable material was poured from inside the compartment'
• Cabinet reshuffle an anti-climax: Cong.
• 'U.K. will not tolerate raising funds for militancy'
• Bedlam in Bihar Assembly
• Madras yacht club to reopen annexe
• Bridge collapse disrupts rail traffic
• We have not violated any law, says Tehelka
• New rly zones, more populistic than pragmatic
• Mallya denies defying ED summons
• PM urged to ensure Gujarat camps are open
• Hepatitis-B vaccine price slashed
• U.S. patent for Indian innovation
• No oil price hike now: BPCL chief
• Vice-President election and the BJP agenda
• Shatrughan, Vinod Khanna outline priorities
• Govt. to go ahead with judicial reforms
• New UPCC chief appointed
• Naidu for permanent solution to naxal problem

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu