By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 10, 2020: Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) will invest Rs 300 crore to set up a new unit in Biotech Park in Andhaura, near here to manufacture ten different kinds of vaccines including the ones for malaria and COVID-19.

BBIL is developing the indigenous Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, in partnership with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The third-stage trials of the BBIL Covid-19 vaccine candidate are scheduled to start this month. The Company is credited with BBIL either developing or already producing new and improved vaccines for a range of diseases like rotavirus diarrhoea, malaria, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, pandemic influenza, and also drug-resistant staphylococcus.

Odisha’s Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy has asked officials to facilitae launching of the unit in the earliest by starting the ground level construction work within a fortnight and commence production within the scheduled time. The building plan as per the design has also already been approved along with the required statutory clearances and pollution board permission.

Odisha government also has asked BBIL to set up a ‘state of art’ biotech incubation centre, common facilities and IT corridor along with the first phase construction of the industry.