GG News Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 19th Jan. Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam visited the newly established Sapigen Biologix vaccine facility in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, which has been set up with an investment of Rs 1,500 crore. This state-of-the-art plant, a subsidiary of Bharat Biotech, is poised to become one of the world’s largest vaccine manufacturing plants, with the capacity to produce eight billion doses annually.
Accompanied by a high-level delegation, including top ministers and business leaders, Shanmugaratnam was welcomed by Dr. Krishna Ella, Founder of Sapigen Biologix, and Suchitra Ella, Managing Director of Bharat Biotech, along with other senior executives. During the visit, the Singaporean President toured the manufacturing facilities and engaged in high-level discussions with the leadership team of Sapigen Biologix. A plaque was unveiled in honor of his visit to the facility.
In a statement, Dr. Krishna Ella expressed pride in showcasing the facility’s innovative capabilities and its potential to accelerate global vaccine development. He highlighted the plant’s commitment to public health, affordable vaccines, and India’s role in strengthening its self-reliance and pandemic preparedness. Ella also emphasized the strategic importance of the plant, noting that it is the first vaccine and biotech manufacturing facility in eastern India, bridging the gap between Hyderabad and Arunachal Pradesh, traditionally hubs of such industries in the southern and western parts of the country.
Raches Ella, Managing Director of Sapigen Biologix, extended gratitude to President Shanmugaratnam for his visit, underscoring the facility’s broader significance beyond Odisha. The facility, designed to position Odisha and India on the global vaccine production map, will support the supply of vaccines not just for global distribution but also for regional economic growth, talent development, and sustainable healthcare solutions.
Sapigen Biologix will initially focus on producing key vaccines to address global health challenges. The first vaccine to be manufactured at the plant is the world’s second oral cholera vaccine, Hillchol (BBV131), which is expected to play a critical role in combating cholera amid ongoing global shortages. Another key vaccine will be RTS,S, the first licensed malaria vaccine, developed in collaboration with GSK, which will primarily be distributed to low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia. The facility will also produce the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) and, in the future, vaccines for diseases like Chikungunya and Zika.
The establishment of the Sapigen Biologix facility is set to create over 2,000 direct jobs and an additional 1,500 indirect jobs, further developing the local talent pool in Odisha. It represents a significant step in advancing India’s biotechnological capabilities and its global contribution to vaccine production.
This visit coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and India, underscoring the growing ties between the two nations. The Sapigen Biologix plant’s establishment marks a milestone in the advancement of vaccine production capabilities in India and positions the country as a key player in global public health efforts.
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