Hyderabad, Jun 24 (UNI) Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), a leading biologicals company, on Monday announced the ground-breaking of a new Sterile Filling Facility (SFF) at its manufacturing plant in Phase III of Genome Valle in Karkapatla of Telangana.



With Rs 75 crore investment in the upcoming SFF, Indian Immunologicals Limited expects to increase its capacity to supply lifesaving vaccines such as the Anti Rabies Vaccine (ARV) – Abhayrab™.



The new state-of-the-art facility expected to be ready by later next year. The SFF is equipped with hi-end filling equipment from the world’s best manufacturers, in line with the requirements of the nature of work handled at the plant, a company statement here said.



Speaking on the occasion, Dr K Anand Kumar, Managing Director – Indian Immunologicals Limited said, “IIL has a long history of supplying vaccines critical to public health. We are constantly striving to make the vaccines affordable and accessible to reach the benefits of preventive healthcare to maximum number of people.

The expansion at Karkapatla plant is in line with our mission and will help meet the growing requirements of critical vaccines”.



Various reports in the past few months indicate that several states in the country have reported shortages of ARV, due to a combination of factors including growing demand, imperfect demand signal, and supply disruptions. Reports indicated that the shortages sometime extend to the tune of 60-80 per cent.



“Currently there are reports of shortages of anti-rabies vaccine in the country. Investment in a new sterile filling facility shows that IIL is committed to expanding manufacturing capacity to meet unmet public health needs in India. With supply from this facility, IIL will continue to be the largest rabies vaccine manufacturer in the country,” said Dr Prasanna Deshpande, Deputy Managing Director, IIL.



IIL has 4 manufacturing facilities at various locations – Karkapatla, Telangana – Human Vaccines & Animal Health Formulations, Ooty, Tamil Nadu – Anti Rabies production unit; Hyderabad, Telangana – Human Biologicals Unit (Gachibowli) and animal vaccines unit, Dargaville, New Zealand - New Bovine Serum.

IIL exports various Human and animal vaccines to over 50 countries and currently employs around 1,300 people, the release said.

UNI VV CS 1311