An MOU has been signed between Bharat Biotech International and Gujarat Covid Vaccine Consortium (GCVC) towards contract manufacturing for the Drug Substance for COVAXIN. GCVC comprises:
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), a Government of Gujarat undertaking
- Hester Biosciences
- Omnibrx Biotechnologies
Highlights of the MOU:
- Bharat Biotech shall provide the technology for the production of the Drug Substance for COVAXIN.
- GBRC will act as an advisor and mentor and will facilitate the technology transfer from Bharat Biotech
- Hester shall provide the complete infrastructure at its Gujarat plant for the manufacturing of the Drug Substance
- Omnibrx shall act as a technology support partner
This entire process is facilitated by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. If everything goes as per the schedule, the Drug Substance would be available from August 2021 which will be supplied back to Bharat Biotech for producing COVAXIN.
Hester has estimated an outlay of Rs 40 crores for this project.
This proposed manufacturing activity at Hester would not disturb any manufacturing or marketing forecasts of Hester’s on-going business, for the financial year 2021-2022.