Another vaccine of exceptional interest to us is the hexavalent vaccine for Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Haemophilus Influenzae type b conjugate, and an inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). Studies have shown that once the number of cases go down to a certain level, IPV is a better choice for routine immunisation against polio. What’s the status of your vaccine manufacturing facility in Hyderabad? Shantha has designed and developed a truly world class research facility equipped with the latest tools of research in modern biotechnology, providing the scientists with the necessary wherewithal to carry on their work. Shantha is equipped with a state-ofthe-art R&D facility, ideally designed for the development of biologics, based on modern biotechnology. The facility is divided in four independent laboratories. R&D activities cover the development of vaccines against Rota Virus, HPV, and Typhoid. Shantha’s new facility is coming up at Muppireddypally in Hyderabad, about 10 kms away from the vaccine player existing facility in Medchal, and will manufacture a range of Shantha’s existing vaccine offerings including the Pentavalent vaccine Shan5, which is used to immunise infants from five diseases – Diptheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Haemophilus and Hepatitis B. Other than vaccines, what are your company’s growth platforms? What’s FUTURE MEDICINE I August 2012
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your vision for the future? We are looking forward to bringing Shan5 back into the market as it offers ease of administration by combining all the vaccines in one injection. Once we have Shan5 and these products on track, we will go ahead with more vaccines for diseases such as Hepatitis A, Rotavirus, HPV. Also, we hope to introduce IPV before a hexavalent vaccine that is in the pipeline. Additionally, we are in the process of building a new plant in Muppireddipally, a few kilometers from Hyderabad, for manufacturing the rotavirus and Shan5 vaccines. Is there a need to bring about amendments in India’s National Vaccine Policy? The National Vaccine Policy published in April 2011 looks very positive and is definitely a welcome start to initiate discussions and take concrete steps. There is a need for political will to back the National Vaccine Policy for the public to reap benefits. The provisions for incorporating vaccines in immunisation programmes that are relevant locally in the policy document are very sound. Almost 50 per cent of the vaccines produced in the world are manufactured by the industry in India and, if given adequate support, they can make a huge difference on the healthcare scenario in our country. Overall, healthcare, especially preventive healthcare in India, needs
much more investment. For me personally, preventive healthcare was one of the things that attracted me to Shantha, as it allows us to truly make a strong impact on public health in the developing world with affordable vaccines. Has the economic crisis in Europe affected the company’s growth prospects? This is a rather complex question as there are several interconnections between various economies these days. As far as I can tell, the crisis in Europe has not impacted Shantha’s growth prospects in any way as we deal primarily with public health in the developing world. Tell us about your corporate social responsibility initiatives. We have been supporting the local government school at Atwelly since 2007. We contribute to the monthly midday meal. In 2011, we decided to adopt the primary and secondary school at Mupireddipally in addition to the school at Atwelly. We gave our commitment to support the mid-day meal scheme like we do at the Atwelly school. Shantha supplies a small amount of vaccines to a few hospitals and foundations on a cost-free basis. As an example, we have partnered the Bangalore Kidney Foundation to sustain the free Hepatitis B immunisation programme for poor patients undergoing dialysis at BKF Dialysis Centre.