Date:25/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/25/stories/2006092511640100.htm

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Low-cost Hepatitis-B vaccine developed

Special Correspondent

New product priced 40% less than products made by private companies, MNCs

HYDERABAD: Human Biologicals Institute (HBI), a division of the National Dairy Development Board's wholly-owned subsidiary Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), has launched a low-cost recombinant DNA Hepatitis-B vaccine.

To be manufactured indigenously at the HBI's Hyderabad facility, the new product would be priced 40 per cent less than the products of private sector companies and multinationals available in the markets at present. Launched under the brand Elovac-B, the new product offers best purity of Hepatitis-B surface antigen, exceeding the standards specified by regulatory authorities. Health and Finance Minister K. Rosaiah who formally launched the product on Sunday wanted the HBI to come out with more such vaccines making immunisation affordable to the common man.

Vast network

Speaking to reporters later, IIL managing director K.V. Balasubramaniam said the product would be distributed through the vast network of 2,000 Abhay Clinics, including 150 in Andhra Pradesh, apart from the institutional channels. Elovac-B would be available in 0.5 ml and 5 ml vials and the paediatric dosage would be priced at Rs. 50 a dose at Abhay Clinics as compared to prices of existing products in excess of Rs. 80, according to Mr. Balasubramaniam.