India leads in vaccine production
The vaccines sector within the BioPharma space witnessed a continued growth in 2011-12. Haffkine Biopharmaceutical and Serum Institute recorded high growth of 100 percent and 60 percent respectively during the period. However, the year was challenging for a few companies like Bharat Biotech, Panacea Biotec, and Shantha Biotechnics as some of their products lost the WHO pre-qualification status. Most of the companies will bounce back in a year or two as they have initiated corrective measures.
Around 70 percent of the total volume of vaccines manufactured in India are exported. India is the major supplier of vaccines to UNICEF which in turn meets 40 percent of the total vaccine demand for childhood vaccination in more than 140 countries. The share of the private sector in the total volume of vaccines exported is roughly around 40 percent. India exports most of the conventional vaccines and a few therapeutic vaccines. It also imports most of therapeutic vaccines being supplied in the private market by the multinationals in India.
The local private vaccines market recorded 25 percent growth as global players such as Sanofi Pasteur, GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer recorded over 35 percent growth each. These multinationals have been investing a lot on awareness programs about disease prevention through campaigns resulting in an increase in their vaccines revenues.
Biological E recorded a growth of 88 percent in vaccines sales followed by Sanofi Pasteur at 61 percent, GlaxoSmithKline at 45 percent. The vaccines business during this year stood at $600 million compared the previous year's figure of $510 million. Although no new vaccines were launched last year, education and awareness about disease prevention, an increase in disposable income and increased government participation have proved to be beneficial for the growth of the local vaccine sector. In all there are about 60 brands of vaccine products in India covering 10 different diseases.
The animal vaccine market is about $60-70 million and has registered a 15 percent growth. The leading names in this sector include Indian Immunologicals, Indovax, Intervet, Biovet, Hester Biosciences, Brilliant Bio Pharma, MSD Animal Health (Merck), Institute of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals. The market is expected to maintain a similar growth in the coming year as well.
