Page 148 - CW E-Magazine (1-4-2025)

Pharmaceuticals

INFRASTRUCTURE
Bharat Biotech launches integrated cell and gene

therapy, viral production facility in Hyderabad

Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech
International Ltd. (BBIL) has set up
India’s only vertically integrated, pur-
pose-designed Cell & Gene Therapy
(C>) infrastructure & viral vector
production facility in Genome Valley
at an investment of $75-mn (around
Rs. 640-crore).

“With this, we are moving beyond
vaccine innovation to leading-edge
regenerative and personalised therapies that
promise hope for millions,” said
Dr. Krishan Ella, Executive Chairman, BBIL.

“Gene and cell therapies represent
some of the most intricate, scientifi cally
advanced treatments available today
and process of vaccine production is
almost similar to the cell culture and According to Raches Ella, Chief the trials and other regulatory approv-
we can use our domain knowledge for Development Offi cer, Bharat Biotech als,” Ella said. The company has entered
innovation in C>,” he said adding who heads the CGT initiative, the into a research collaboration with the
that Bharat Biotech is the only com- new facility was designed to produce University of Wisconsin – Madison, US
pany in the developing world which high-titer viral vectors (AAV, Lentivi- which can be later expanded to commer-
conducted about 150 clinical trials in rus, Adenovirus), which are essential cial pacts including in-licencing. Down
20 countries. The company said the deve- for cell and gene therapy applications – the line, the company would also
lopment ushers in a new era of gene the crucial material for anti-cancer and explore the export potential and opportu-
and cell therapies to tackle scientifi c genetic disorders and robust clinical nity in medical tourism in the segment.
challenges – such as targeted gene development abilities for QC releases.
expression, immune system modulation, Focus areas
and long-term cell survival. The work “Additionally, it has capabilities Oncology and rare diseases treat-
will span from boosting immune res- to manufacture multiple platform pro- ment therapies will be key focus areas
ponses against cancer to ensuring that ducts for various disease indications, for Bharat Biotech in C> and the
therapeutic proteins are safely accept- including blood cancers, solid organ facility will support a wide array of
ed in patients with genetic diseases like cancers, and genetic disorders,” he advanced therapies, including CD19
haemophilia. said adding that the high cost of C> CAR T cell therapy for blood cancers
(about Rs. 50-lakh for a product) could and gene therapy.
“The initiative will enable the rapid be further brought down with indige-
translation of advanced scientifi c discove- nous production. The 50,000 sq-ft dedicated state-of-
ries – from potent therapeutic vectors to the-art CGT facility has GMP certifi ca-
in vivo CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) Bharat Biotech now has fi ve pro- tion and a clean room facility and will
generation – into real-world solutions,” ducts in the pipeline – two in cell culture help address unmet clinical needs glob-
Dr. Ella said, adding that the regulatory and three in the gene therapy segment. ally by concentrating on critical condi-
framework in India should facilitate “We expect the fi rst product to be rolled tions such as haematological malignan-
research and innovation in the segment. out subject to successful completion of cies and inherited blood disorders.

148 Chemical Weekly April 1, 2025

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