Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL) announced the inauguration of its ‘New Bovine Serum’ manufacturing facility in New Zealand today.
Pristine Biologicals (NZ) Ltd (PBL) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of IIL. The new facility was inaugurated by T Nanda Kumar, Chairman – NDDB & Pristine Biologicals (NZ) Ltd, in the presence of Jo Goodhew, Minister for Food Safety Development & Primary Industries, Government of New Zealand.
In October 2014, IIL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NDDB, established Pristine Biologicals (NZ) Ltd. The objective of the investment was to gain control over the supplies of a key ingredient used in vaccine manufacture. Serum from New Zealand is highly regarded as the country is free from several diseases. The new plant can manufacture up to 300 tonnes of serum.
The plant will produce key products such as newborn calf serum, adult bovine serum (NZ origin), and bulk bovine haemoglobin (NZ origin) for biopharmaceutical, research and diagnostic purposes, a release from the Hyderabad-based IIL said.
Bovine blood will be collected only from the EU and USDA-approved abattoirs in the closed method under hygienic conditions. All the operations will be subjected to daily independent verification by veterinarians employed by the Ministry of Primary Industries, New Zealand.
Speaking at the inauguration, K V Balasubramaniam, Managing Director - Indian Immunologicals Ltd said, “Pristine would bring the science of biopharmaceuticals to the users of bovine serum and the rigor in quality assurance and management which will, in turn, ensure that users bring high quality to their products.”
With the new addition, IIL has five manufacturing facilities at various locations – Karkapatla, Telangana – Human Vaccines & Animal Health Formulations; Ooty, Tamil Nadu – Anti rabies production unit; Rajkot, Gujarat – cattle feed Unit; Hyderabad, Telangana – Biologicals Unit. IIL exports various human and animal vaccines to over 50 countries and currently employs around 1300 people.