Based on NNE’s design, HLL Biotech Limited is building a major vaccine R&D and production complex to deliver affordable vaccines for India’s Universal Immunization Program.
HLL Biotech Limited (formerly known as HLL Lifecare Limited), one of India’s major providers of healthcare products and services, is building a vaccine manufacturing facility to support the country’s Universal Immunization Program.
One of the biggest vaccine projects in India ever, the so-called Integrated Vaccine Complex (IVC) is funded by the Indian government and officially labelled a “project of national importance”. At the moment, the Indian government has to buy vaccines from multinational pharmaceutical companies at prices which can often prove prohibitive. The IVC complex, which is expected to be fully operational by 2018, will be constructed in accordance with WHO-cGMP guidelines to make safe and effective vaccines available at affordable prices, which Indian hospitals and health facilities can afford.
Combatting key diseases
Once completed, the complex will produce vaccines against diseases such as diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, influenza type B (as pentavalent formulation), measles, human rabies and Japanese encephalitis. It is believed that the facility could save the lives of hundreds of thousands of children every year.
The IVC is built on a 100 acre-site at Chengalpett, Tamil Nadu and will house a production facility for conventional bacterial and viral vaccines alongside new generation vaccines and pentavalent combination vaccines. The complex will also have a state-of-the-art vaccine R&D facility to develop new vaccines to combat bird flu and other infectious diseases.
HLL Lifecare was chosen as the implementing agency for the project, because of its wide network in India and overseas. The company has formed a fully-owned subsidiary, HLL Biotech Ltd, to implement this project. “Initially, we will focus on packaging and marketing vaccines procured in bulk from our technology collaborators and once the first phase of the complex has been commissioned, we will commence primary manufacture of vaccines from seed strains,” says E. A. Subramanian, Chief Executive Officer of HLL Biotech Ltd.
A privileged role
The bidding involved eight months of grueling screening, including presentations to high-ranking government officials. Ultimately, NNE was selected as project consultant among nine major industry players due to our vast experience in constructing and validating production facilities for the pharmaceutical and biotech industry in India combined with our international expertise in good manufacturing practice (GMP) and validation.
“This project will have a direct impact on the well-being of the Indian people. And we feel extremely privileged to be playing such a key role,” says Sameer Taneja, Managing Director, NNE in India.
Initially, we will focus on packaging and marketing vaccines procured in bulk from our technology collaborators and once the first phase of the complex has been commissioned, we will commence primary manufacture of vaccines from seed strains.
This project will have a direct impact on the well-being of the Indian people. And we feel extremely privileged to be playing such a key role.
Quick facts
Customer
HLL Biotech Limited
Country
India
Total investment
USD 68.3 million
Project duration
Jan. 2008 – 2018 (expected)
Size
61,000 m2
Services provided
Technology transfer, conceptual design, basic and detailed engineering, project management, procurement assistance, construction supervision and validation guidance and support
