Biological E. Limited
{{Short description|Indian biopharmaceutical company}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Biological E Limited
| logo = Biological E logo.jpg
| logo_caption =
| image =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| type = Private
| founder = Datla Venkata Krishnam Raju
| key_people = Mahima Datla (CEO and Managing Director){{cite news |title=Hyderabad's Biological E: The Dark Horse In India's Vaccine Race |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/innovation/hyderabads-biological-e-the-dark-horse-in-indias-vaccine-race/64733/1 |access-date=24 May 2021 |work=Forbes India |language=en}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|1953}}
| location = Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| num_employees = 2,500
| industry = Biotechnology, Biopharmaceuticals
| products =
| revenue = {{increase}} {{INRconvert|3820|c}} (FY23)
| net_income = {{increase}} {{INRconvert|953|c}} (FY23){{cite news |title=Biological E. Limited: Ratings reaffirmed|url=https://www.icra.in/Rationale/ShowRationaleReport?Id=125603 |access-date=25 February 2024|work=ICRA}}
| homepage = {{url|www.biologicale.com}}
}}
Biological E Limited (also known as BioE) is an Indian biotechnology and biopharmaceutical company based in Hyderabad, Telangana. It specialises in the areas of low-cost vaccine production.{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/biological-e-cuts-childrens-vaccine-price-by-30/article4634028.ece |title=Biological E cuts children's vaccine price by 30% |publisher=thehindubusinessline.com/ |date= 19 April 2013|access-date=19 April 2013}}
__TOC__
History
The company was founded by Dr. D.V.K. Raju and Mr. G.A.N. Raju in 1953 as Biological Products Private Limited. It was among the first private sector companies in India to manufacture biological products.{{cite web|url=http://www.icra.in/Files/Reports/Rationale/Biological_E_%20-R-11262010.pdf |title=Biological E Limited |publisher=icra.in |date= |access-date=13 March 2012}} It pioneered Heparin production in India.{{cite web |title=Setting up manufacturing facilities for Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine. |url=http://tdb.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Write-up_BiologicalE.pdf |website=www.tdb.gov.in |publisher=Technology Development Board |access-date=25 April 2021}} {{PD-notice}}
In 1964, Evans Medicals, a U.K. based Pharma Company, which later got merged with Glaxo SmithKline acquired 40% stake in the company, which was subsequently bought back by the promoters in 1995.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}
During the 1960s and 70s, Biological E developed formulations in cough and digestive enzymes, started manufacturing anti-tetanus serum, and launched anti-TB drugs, TT and DTP vaccines.
Biological E embarked specialise in low-cost vaccines manufacturing. The company started manufacturing its flagship vaccine product, Pentavalent (DTP Hib HepB) in 2008. Biological E is a major supplier of vaccines to international development and aid organisations such as WHO, UNICEF, BMGF.
COVID-19 vaccine development
{{main article|Corbevax}}
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company signed a pact with Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital and Dynavax Technologies to develop a COVID-19 vaccine.{{cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/biological-e-starts-human-trials-of-baylor-college-s-covid-19-vaccine-11605525030199.html|title=Biological E initiates human trials of vaccine|first=Leroy|last=Leo|date=16 November 2020|website=mint}}{{cite news |title=Coronavirus {{!}} Biological E. inks pacts with Johnson & Johnson, Baylor College of Medicine on vaccine |url=https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/coronavirus-biological-e-inks-pacts-with-johnson-johnson-baylor-college-of-medicine-on-vaccine/article32345582.ece |access-date=21 March 2021 |work=The Hindu |date=13 August 2020 |language=en-IN}} The vaccine Corbevax{{cite web|last=Bharadwaj|first=Swati|date=3 June 2021|title=Bio E to get Rs 1,500 crore advance from government to reserve 30 crore doses of Corbevax|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/bio-e-to-get-rs-1500-crore-advance-from-government-to-reserve-30-crore-doses-of-corbevax/articleshow/83197897.cms|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-03|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603065628/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/bio-e-to-get-rs-1500-crore-advance-from-government-to-reserve-30-crore-doses-of-corbevax/articleshow/83197897.cms |archive-date=3 June 2021 }}/Bio E COVID-19 was expected to roll out in 2021 with 75 to 80 million doses manufactured per month; the production was expected to reach 1 billion doses by the end of 2022 under the Quad initiative.{{cite news |title=Meet Bio E: India's Oldest Private Vaccine Maker Making 1 Billion Covid Doses |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/technology/news/bio-e-india-vaccine-maker-making-1-billion-covid-doses-539279.html |access-date=24 May 2021 |work=IndiaTimes |date=2021-05-02 |language=en-IN}}{{cite news |title=Biological E covid vaccine: Biological E set for Covid vaccine rollout by August|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/biological-e-set-for-covid-vaccine-rollout-by-august/articleshow/82445644.cms |access-date=24 May 2021 |work=The Times of India |language=en}}
In August 2020, the company signed a deal with Johnson & Johnson to manufacture the latter's vaccine candidate at its Hyderabad facility.{{cite news |title=Biological E to manufacture Janssen's Covid-19 vaccine |url=https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/news/biological-e-covid-vaccine-deals/ |access-date=24 May 2021 |work=www.pharmaceutical-technology.com}} In February 2021, it announced that it would produce over 600 million doses of the single-dose Janssen vaccine annually.{{cite news |title=Biological E looking to make 600 million Johnson and Johnson vaccine shots a year |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/biological-e-looking-to-make-600-million-johnson-and-johnson-vaccine-shots-a-year/articleshow/80783227.cms |access-date=21 March 2021 |work=The Times of India |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Leo |first1=Leroy |title=Biological E: The mass producer of Johnson & Johnson vaccine |url=https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/biological-e-the-mass-producer-of-johnson-johnson-vaccine-11616235431098.html |access-date=21 March 2021 |work=mint |date=20 March 2021 |language=en}}