Hilleman Lab to invest Rs 300 crore to develop low-cost vaccines

The company is developing a synthetic vaccine to fight meningitis in Asian, African and Latin American countries

Hilleman Laboratories will invest around Rs 300 crore in the next four to five years to develop low-cost vaccines to treat diseases like cholera and meningitis. The company is a 50:50 joint venture between MSD Pharmaceuticals and UK-based Wellcome Trust.

Davinder Gill, Chief Executive Officer, Hilleman said, “For research, we are looking for partners namely pharma companies, vaccine speciality companies and government agencies to collaborate and fund the project. We had received foundational grants from MSD Pharmaceuticals and Wellcome Trust, but now we wants to be financially independent.”

“MSD Pharmaceuticals and Wellcome Trust invested around Rs 700 crore nearly five years ago in the company which is now valued at around Rs 900 crore,” he added.

The company is developing a synthetic vaccine to fight meningitis in Asian, African and Latin American countries.
“We are developing a vaccine for rotavirus, which would be heat-resistant and easy to carry. We have already started clinical trials and it will be ready in 3-4 years,” Gill said.

Hilleman LaboratoriesMSD PharmaceuticalsWellcome Trust