Panacea prequalified by WHO to supply vaccines

Panacea Biotec Ltd has informed that the Company has been pre-qualified by WHO for supplying its innovative combination vaccines for pediatric immunization - EasyFour (DTP + Hib) and Ecovac (DTP + Hep B). In a notification, WHO has advised the UN procuring agencies regarding the acceptability of these vaccines worldwide. The Company is already a pre-qualified supplier of OPV and Hepatitis-B vacuities to UN agencies.

In this regard the Company has issued the following Press Release:

"Panacea Biotec has been pre-qualified by WHO for supplying their innovative combination vaccines for pediatric immunization- EasyFour (DTP + Hib) and Ecovac (DTP + Hep B). In a notification, WHO has advised the UN procuring agencies regarding the acceptability of these vaccines worldwide. The Company is already a pre-qualified supplier of OPV and Hepatitis-B vaccines to UN agencies.

The Company has been playing an imperative role in immunization through its novel and innovative, world's first fully liquid vaccine with brands such as, 'Easy Four' & 'Easy Five', for over 3 years. It has partnered with WHO & UNICEF with a mission of supporting the cause of maximizing coverage of vaccines under the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) for more than a decade.

The combined demand of all combination pediatric vaccines worldwide was valued at USD 600 million in 2005 and is estimated to grow up to USD 1.6 billion by 2012.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rajesh Jain, JMD of the Company says, "Panacea Biotec has built an innovative portfolio of combination vaccines which has enabled it achieve a leadership position in just about two years of its launch in India. With this pre-qualification by WHO, Panacea Biotec would participate in a large global market of combination vaccines for pediatric immunization."

The Company inaugurated its ultra modern, Greenfield construction, vaccine production plant at Baddi, H.P., with over Rs 100 Crore (approx. USD 25 million) investment in Sept'07, having capacity of more than 1 billion doses per annum, to cater to domestic and global markets. With this latest state-of-art facility, the total capacity to produce vaccines by Panacea Biotec would be doubled to two billion doses per annum. The commercial production is expected to commence in next financial year."