Biological E Ltd and Bharat Biotech, two large vaccine manufacturers based in Hyderabad, have around 250 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine on hand and ready to ship as orders come in.
According to corporate sources, Biological E has 200 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine Corbevax on hand, while Bharat Biotech has 50 million doses of Covaxin on hand.
According to Dr. Vikram Paradkar, Executive Vice President (Production), of Biological E, the company produced around 30 crore doses of Corbevax in total, meeting the Central government’s vaccine manufacturing obligation.
Biological E successfully delivered the government 10 crore pills on March 22.
“Currently, we have approximately 20 crores (200 million) doses that are fully tested and ready for supply, as and when we receive orders. Additionally, we manufactured 20 crore doses equivalent of the antigen which will help us ramp up the manufacturing of the Corbevax finished product quickly,” Paradkar told PTI.
Biological E worked with Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development (Texas Children’s CVD) and Baylor College of Medicine (Baylor) in Houston, Texas, to produce the vaccine.
He further stated that Biological E can begin producing and supplying more vaccine supplies within eight weeks of future orders and that its current manufacturing capacity allows it to make and distribute around 10 crore doses of Corbevax on a monthly basis.
According to Bharat Biotech sources, the vaccine producer has more than 50 million doses of Covaxin in vials and more than 200 million doses as medicinal material.
“Additional production capacity is also available to meet product demand,” they said adding fresh stocks of the vaccine are available and ready for supplies.
Covaxin, India’s COVID-19 vaccine, was created in partnership with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – National Institute of Virology (NIV).
Due to a lack of product demand, Covaxin manufacturing was halted earlier this year, and the 50 million doses in vials are due to expire in early 2023, resulting in losses for the firm, according to sources.
