Shantha Biotechnics bags $340 million UN contract to supply pentavalent vaccine

Shantha Biotechnics has bagged $340 million worth of contracts from the United Nations to supply a pentavalent vaccine for a period of three years, announced the French drug maker Sanofi-Aventis, which controls a majority stake in Shantha Bio.

Shantha Biotechnics will supply its pentavalent vaccine Shan 5 which offers protection against 5 infections –diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, Haemophilus influenza B and Hepatitis B –in children over a period starting from 2010 to 2012, as per the contract terms.

Shan5 is India’s first indigenously developed liquid pentavalent vaccine (DTP-Hep B-Hib). Shan 5 is used for vaccination of infants aged more than 6 weeks and given in three doses.

In July, Sanofi-Aventis’ vaccine division, Sanofi Pasteur decided buy Merieux Alliance’s French subsidiary ShanH, which owns 80 percent stake in Shantha Biotechnics for EURO 550 million. In 2006, Mérieux Alliance had bought 60% stake in Shantha Biotechnics at a valuation of US$175mn.  The Britis drug major GlaxoSmithKline was also in the race to acquire a controlling stake in Shantha Biotechnics.

Sanofi’s acquisition of Shantha, which sees sales of around $90 million in the current fiscal year, is expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter.

Hyderabad, southern India -based  Shantha Biotechnics is the first Indian company to develop, manufacture and market a recombinant human healthcare product Shanvac-B. Shanvac-B is the first Indian Hepatitis-B vaccine to be pre-qualified by WHO, Geneva, for supplying to UN agencies globally.

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Shantha has also obtained WHO pre-qualification for its Shantetra – combination vaccine of DPT and  Hepatitis-B. Shantetra offers immunity against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus and hepatitis B. It is used for vaccination of children aged more than 6 weeks and given in three doses.

Shantetra is the second vaccine to receive WHO-Geneva pre-qualification in the company. Before Shantetra, Shantha Biotechnics got WHO approval for ShanTT is a vaccine against tetanus caused due to infection by a bacteria – Clostridium tetani. ShanTT is used for vaccination of children as well as adults.

Shantha’s multi-product vaccine portfolio contains other leading vaccines like ShanHib – a vaccine against infections caused by Hemophilus influenzae type-B. ShanHib is available in liquid as well as lyophilised form. A single injection of ShanHib prevents infants from childhood infections caused due to Hemophilus influenzae type-B. It is used for vaccination of infants more than 6 weeks of age and given as 3 doses with a booster at 15-18 months.

Shantha’s R&D efforts focuses around development of generic biologicals, novel therapeutic antibodies, proteins and vaccinesin the fields of oncology, infectious diseases and platform technologies.