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Meet Serum India: World¡¯s Largest Vaccine Manufacturer Ready To Fight COVID-19 Pandemic
Serum Institute of India recently announced that it is going to manufacture vaccines for COVID-19 that are currently being developed by researchers at Oxford University. Moreover, Serum India announced that they¡¯ll be selling it at an affordable price of just Rs 1,000, way less than what it would be sold for globally. While this seems like a very cool step on their part, this was the mission of the company, to begin with.
Serum Institute of India recently announced that it is going to manufacture vaccines for COVID-19 that are currently being developed by researchers at Oxford University. Moreover, Serum India announced that they¡¯ll be selling it at an affordable price of just Rs 1,000, way less than what it would be sold for globally. While this seems like a very cool step on their part, this was the mission of the company, to begin with.
Foundation of Serum Institute of India
Serum Institute India was founded by Cyrus Poonawalla in the year 1966 with the aim of making life-saving vaccines, which at the time were not easily available in the country. These vaccines were imported at high prices, getting them out of reach for the underprivileged.
Access to revolutionary medicine at affordable prices
They¡¯ve created several life-saving biologicals and sold them at prices affordable to the common man. Serum Institute was instrumental in making our country self-sufficient for Tetanus Anti-toxin and Anti-snake Venom serum, followed by DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis) group of Vaccines and then later on MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) group of vaccines.
Serum India is the largest vaccine manufacturer in the world
Today, not only is Serum India regarded as one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in India, it has also achieved the name for the world's largest vaccine manufacturer by number of doses produced and sold globally (over 1.5 billion doses) which includes Polio vaccine as well as Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hib, BCG, r-Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccines.
Cyrus Poonawalla Awarded Padma Shree in 2005
Cyrus Poonawalla was awarded the highest civilian award by the nation -- Padmashree in the year 2005, by former president Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam.
Bill Gates called Serum India ¡®Vaccine Heroes¡¯
Cyrus Poonawalla was also lauded by Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates, calling them ¡®Vaccine Heroes¡¯ for delivering effective vaccines for meningitis for merely 50 cents to save lives of people across the globe.
Developing a groundbreaking anti-rabies vaccine
In 2016, with support from US-based Mass Biologics of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, they invented a fast-acting anti-rabies agent, Rabies Human Monoclonal Antibody (RMAb), also known as Rabishield.
Acquired facilities across the world
Apart from the massive Serum Bio-Pharma Park in Pune, they recently acquired two new pharmaceutical companies --? Bilthoven Biologicals in the Netherlands (in June 2012) and Praha Vaccines in the Czech Republic (in April 2017).
One of the first Indian companies to commence COVID-19 vaccine trials
Serum Institute was one of the first pharmaceutical companies in India to start human trials for its recombinant BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) vaccine to test its efficacy against the novel coronavirus.
State of the art manufacturing facilities
Serum Institute of India has established state of the art labs with computerized equipment for the production and testing of its life-saving biologicals. Some of their hi-tech equipment include installing robotic arm for virus handling, cell factory and cell cube for growing cells, facilities for the manufacture of polysaccharide and recombinant vaccines and for monoclonal antibodies.
Sophisticated tunnel systems, high-speed vial washing, filling, stoppering and sealing machines are capable of working at a speed of 500 containers per minute and have been installed with superior filling accuracy.
Approved by US FDA
The manufacturing facilities are managed, keeping global standards in mind. They¡¯re approved by US¡¯s Food and Drugs Administration, clearing cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations) as well as Centre for Disease Control¡¯s BSL3 (Bio Safety Level 3) parameters to be authorised for entering new markets.?
Serum Institute of India recently announced that it is going to manufacture vaccines for COVID-19 that are currently being developed by researchers at Oxford University. Moreover, Serum India announced that they¡¯ll be selling it at an affordable price of just Rs 1,000, way less than what it would be sold for globally. While this seems like a very cool step on their part, this was the mission of the company, to begin with.Read More
Serum Institute India was founded by Cyrus Poonawalla in the year 1966 with the aim of making life-saving vaccines , which at the time were not easily available in the country. These vaccines were imported at high prices, getting them out of reach for the underprivileged. Read More
They¡¯ve created several life-saving biologicals and sold them at prices affordable to the common man. Serum Institute was instrumental in making our country self-sufficient for Tetanus Anti-toxin and Anti-snake Venom serum, followed by DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis) group of Vaccines and then later on MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) group of vaccines. Read More
Today, not only is Serum India regarded as one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in India, it has also achieved the name for the world's largest vaccine manufacturer by number of doses produced and sold globally (over 1.5 billion doses ) which includes Polio vaccine as well as Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hib, BCG, r-Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccines. Read More
Cyrus Poonawalla was awarded the highest civilian award by the nation -- Padmashree in the year 2005, by former president Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam. Read More
Cyrus Poonawalla was also lauded by Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates, calling them ¡®Vaccine Heroes¡¯ for delivering effective vaccines for meningitis for merely 50 cents to save lives of people across the globe. Read More
In 2016, with support from US-based Mass Biologics of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, they invented a fast-acting anti-rabies agent, Rabies Human Monoclonal Antibody (RMAb), also known as Rabishield. Read More
Apart from the massive Serum Bio-Pharma Park in Pune, they recently acquired two new pharmaceutical companies -- Bilthoven Biologicals in the Netherlands (in June 2012) and Praha Vaccines in the Czech Republic (in April 2017). Read More
Serum Institute was one of the first pharmaceutical companies in India to start human trials for its recombinant BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) vaccine to test its efficacy against the novel coronavirus. Read More
Serum Institute of India has established state of the art labs with computerized equipment for the production and testing of its life-saving biologicals. Some of their hi-tech equipment include installing robotic arm for virus handling, cell factory and cell cube for growing cells, facilities for the manufacture of polysaccharide and recombinant vaccines and for monoclonal antibodies. Sophisticated tunnel systems, high-speed vial washing, filling, stoppering and sealing machines are capable of working at a speed of 500 containers per minute and have been installed with superior filling accuracy. Read More
The manufacturing facilities are managed, keeping global standards in mind. They¡¯re approved by US¡¯s Food and Drugs Administration, clearing cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations) as well as Centre for Disease Control¡¯s BSL3 (Bio Safety Level 3) parameters to be authorised for entering new markets. Read More