Biological E, A Woman-Run Company Based In Hyderabad, Will Supply Vaccines To Quad Countries

In a bid to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, India has pledged to manufacture at least one billion more Covid-19 vaccine doses by the end of next year in a joint initiative announced with the United States, Japan and Australia.

Biological E, a Hyderabad-based company will fulfil India¡¯s commitment to produce vaccine doses.

Following the nations' first four-way summit, President Joe Biden's national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, said the so-called Quad had made a "massive joint commitment" to vaccines.

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"The Quad committed to delivering up to one billion doses to ASEAN, the Indo-Pacific and beyond by the end of 2022," Sullivan said.

Biological E Ltd. would produce "at least" one billion doses by the end of next year, focusing on the one-dose, US-developed Johnson & Johnson jab.

Biological E - a woman-run company based in Hyderabad

Biological E is the world's largest producer of Tetanus vaccine and a leading supplier of snake antivenom in India.

It is a woman-run and woman-operated business ¡°advancing DFC¡¯s 2X Women¡¯s Initiative to promote global gender equity,¡± said the press release from US DFC.

The company started business in 1953 and became India's first private company to enter the vaccine business in 1962. It is currently headed by Mahima Datla ¡ª the managing director and CEO of the company.

Reuters

US to enhance Biological E's capacity for COVID vaccine

The manufacturing will be backed financially by Japan as well as the US International Development Finance Corporation, which provides funding for projects in developing countries.

Australia will contribute another US$77 million, in addition to an earlier commitment of US$407 million, to ensure vaccines are not only delivered but administered in Southeast Asia, the White House said.

Japan in turn will provide $41 million for the distribution of vaccines, which requires careful climate control.