Panacea buys 10 pc stake in UK's Cambridge Biostability

New Delhi, Dec 6 (UNI) Panacea Biotec Ltd today said it has acquired a 10 per cent stake in UK-based temperature-stable liquid vaccine manufacturer Cambridge Biostability Ltd (CBL) for 1.935 million pounds.

The company has also signed an agreement with CBL to in-license its stable liquid technology to develop, produce and market a stable liquid version of pentavalent and other combination vaccines for the treatment of diptheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B and haemophilus influenza B.

''It is expected that the company will commence clinical trials of the stable liquid pentavalent vaccine in 2008 with a global product launch expected in 2010,'' company's Joint Managing Director Rajesh Jain said.

The joint venture and strategic investment with CBL strengthens our relationship with them and gives Panacea Biotec more insight into the development and application of thermostabilisation technology, Mr Jain added.

The size of the worldwide market for such vaccines is estimated at 300 million doses per annum and Panacea's vaccine would have a market potential of 135 million dollars, he said.

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