Shantha biotech...name is enough

Do we know the name of the first Indian biopharmaceutical company to launch Hepatitis B vaccine? The name which comes into my mind is of Shantha Biotech.

This company was started way back in early 1990's by Dr. K I Varaprasad Reddy with the sole purpose of developing efficacious but cost effective vaccines and therapeutics that are within the reach of the common man as mentioned in their website......and in reality it did happen.

Initial days were tough for this small company as Banks and financial institutions refused to fund the project. The company atfirst began modestly as an R&D outfit at the Osmania University under the industry-university interactive programme in 1993 and later moved to Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) until an independent R&D facility was built. Then in mid 90's it got financial aid from angel investor, with that money Shantha was able to launch India’s first r- DNA Hepatitis-B vaccine. And there has been no looking back ever since.

Then in 2005 Shantha Biotechnics Limited (Shantha) become a part of the Merieux Alliance group after MA acquired the majority shareholding in the company in November, 2006, ie around 60% stake and yesterday the news was that GSK is also eying on having 51% stake in this company.

The game is not yet over, we have to wait for more...................