To scale up production, tech transfer necessary: Bharat Biotech joint MD
New Delhi, May 09: Partnerships, technology transfers and supply of various critical equipment and materials which go into the production of COVID-19 vaccines are must for scaling up the production to cater to the huge demand, Bharat Biotech Joint MD Suchitra Ella said on Saturday.
Speaking at the EU-India Business Roundtable, Ella noted that more than patent relaxations, it is the partnerships and continuous supplies of critical materials which are critical to ramp up the production and cater not only to domestic demand but also to countries across the globe.
She noted that collaborations are necessary to cater to vaccination needs of a huge country like India.
"We are registering it (Covaxin) in the US and we would be glad to do that in Europe... So, we would be happy to collaborate and to partner with companies and academic institutions from EU.
"India
is
a
large
country,
we
cannot
vaccinate
2.6
billion
(twin
dosages
for
1.3
billion
people)
of
our
population,
that
needs
it
in
this
point
in
time,"
Ella
said.
Even
a
two
billion-odd
number
of
dosages
is
something
which
is
just
not
doable
for
any
nation,
she
added.
"I know that we all know this and understand the crux of it. But, I am sure we can bring in more technologies or maybe patents can be relaxed a bit and we as Indian manufacturers would be able to pitch in and run with new technologies and deploy them in our facilities," Ella said.
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She further said, "We can deploy mRNA technology, subunit vaccines and the whole gamut of biological material, and may a technology transfer."
That
is
all
that
is
required
to
have
enough
capacity
in
India
to
deliver
vaccines
not
only
in
the
country
but
also
to
maybe
the
rest
of
the
world
at
the
earliest
possible
time,
Ella
added.
Bharat
Biotech
is
willing
to
join
hands
with
organisations
in
this
regard,
Ella
said
adding
that
the
company's
past
track
is
a
proof
that
it
respects
partnerships.
"We value partnerships and we ensure the knowledge sharing and mutual handholding go a long way in developing many many life-saving solutions not only for India but for global markets," she noted.
Ella added that the vaccine major has worked successfully with various organisations earlier to roll out around 6-8 products.
"We look at technology as the backbone of our company. We know that we will not exist if we do not have value systems like this," she added.
While acknowledging the importance of knowledge sharing and partnerships with the European Union (EU), she also pointed out blockages in supply of certain critical equipment and materials necessary for Covaxin production from the region.
"There are process equipment which are backlogged in Europe right now. It is not a complaint, I am just saying that the amount of quantities we are ordering is probably throwing the supplies off.
"These
are
unprecedented
numbers.
So,
I
think
it
is
important
to
share
knowledge,
technology
and
to
respect
each
other's
area
or
interest,"
Ella
said.
She
noted
that
the
vaccine
manufacturers
in
the
country
needed
the
raw
materials
in
enormous
quantities
so
that
the
production
of
the
COVID-19
vaccine
could
be
enhanced.
"I want to reiterate that patents are important but I don't see them as a huge challenge right now.
"What we need is technology transfers and certain materials for vaccine production which come for Europe," Ella said when asked if relaxations in patents would help vaccine manufacturers.
Bharat Biotech is in the process of ramping up manufacturing capacity of Covaxin to 70 crore dosages per annum.
Facing the world's fastest-growing coronavirus outbreak, India has seen a near collapse of its health care system in several parts as hospitals ran out of oxygen and did not have enough beds to admit new patients.
To deal with the crisis, the government has among other measures opened up vaccination for all above 18 years. But, the procurement of vaccines for those between 18 and 44 years has been left to states and private hospitals.
This has led to state after state rushing to vaccine makers who can meet only a small part of the demand.