Biocon Biologics has made a strategic move into the communicable disease segment through its partnership with Serum Institute Life Sciences for vaccines and infectious disease antibodies.

Both Serum Institute and Biocon Biologics have invested in developing global quality products and global scale capabilities in biologics and vaccines and both organisations strongly believe that India needs to raise its profile as a nation making a significant difference to global health.

This pandemic has made the world realize the importance of biologics in addressing viral diseases that pose a serious threat to human life. Vaccines and biotherapeutics like antibodies are humanity’s best bet against viral pandemics like COVID-19.

This historic alliance will complement the strengths and resources of two leading Indian players in vaccines and biologics, with the objective of addressing inequitable access both in emerging and developed markets for life saving vaccines and biologics.

The alliance provides Biocon Biologics an asset-light and accelerated entry into the vaccines segment.

The near-term focus will be on COVID-19 vaccines since a large part of the global population remains unvaccinated. Only a small percentage of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose. There is also strong potential from the booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines.

Biocon Biologics has proven its capabilities in biologics with its biosimilars portfolio approved in U.S. and Europe and is expanding its therapeutic focus from non-communicable diseases to infectious diseases. Vaccines will augment our offering in the viral diseases segment.

SILS will receive 15% stake in BBL

Biocon Biologics will have access to 100 million doses of vaccines annually and SILS will receive 15% stake in BBL at a post money valuation of ~$4.9 billion. Biocon Biologics will commercialize Serum Institute’s vaccine portfolio, including COVID-19 vaccines, for global markets.

Additionally, the partnership will have access to Serum Institute Life Sciences’ current development pipeline to address unmet needs in other communicable diseases like mosquito-borne infections.

Biocon Biologics has longstanding expertise in developing biologics, and it will establish an R&D division for vaccines to support this strategic alliance for the development of both vaccines and biologics for communicable diseases.

Vaccines: A Good Strategic Fit to Biocon Biologics

Vaccines are a natural adjacency to Biocon Biologics’ existing capabilities. They provide a good strategic fit to its business and will provide a new dimension to its efforts in improving global healthcare. Vaccines would be an additional growth driver for Biocon Biologics.

In January 2022, Biocon Biologics Ltd.’s board approved the merger with Covidshield Technologies (CTPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Serum Institute Life Sciences Private (SILS). Covidshield Technologies is a private company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Serum Institute Life Sciences, which has the rights to commercialise SILS vaccines.

Biocon Biologics approved allotment of 15% of the equity share capital of Biocon Biologics to the Serum Institute for merger with Covidshield Technologies.

Adar Poonawalla, chief executive officer at Serum Institute, will have a seat on Biocon Biologics’ board.

Biocon Biologics is expected to generate a committed revenue stream and related margins starting the second half of fiscal 2022-23.

At a time when the world is acknowledging inequitable access to vaccines, this strategic alliance will combine the strengths and resources of two leading players to build a stronger partnership in the viral disease segment and enhance access to life-saving vaccines and bio-therapeutics worldwide.

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