Cadila Pharmaceuticals launches joint venture with Novavax in India

Novavax, Incand Cadila Pharmaceuticals have announced the launch of their joint venture in India under the agreement signed between the two companies in March 2009.

This joint venture, CPL Biologicals Pvt. Ltd., will develop and manufacture vaccines, biological therapeutics and diagnostics in India using technology contributed from Novavax and Cadila Pharmaceuticals.

In addition, CPL Biologicals will establish manufacturing facilities in India and develop, produce and sell products such as seasonal influenza vaccine and potentially other novel vaccines against dengue fever and chikungunya fever based on Novavax's virus-like-particle (VLP) vaccine technology.

CPL Biologicals also expects to develop the pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine candidate in India that Novavax is developing in the United States.

''This joint venture represents an important strategic alliance for vaccine development and manufacturing in India and uses unique and cutting-edge vaccine technology," said I A Modi, chairman of CPL Biologicals. "Our vision is to be a leading provider of high quality, affordable vaccines, biological therapeutics and diagnostics through world-class research and innovative manufacturing to address current and future global health challenges.''

Cadila is one of the largest privately held pharmaceutical companies in India, with a pharmaceutical product basket in therapeutic areas that include cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, analgesics, haematinics, anti-infectives and antibiotics, respiratory agents, antidiabetics and immunologicals. It is the first Indian company to get multiple investigational new drug applications (INDs) cleared by USFDA.