The Long Shot
Forbes India|December 7, 2018

Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the 4,837 crore by revenue Serum Institute of India, is looking to grow the low cost, high volume vaccine-maker to 10,000 crore by 2022

Varsha Meghani
The Long Shot
In 1996, a quarter of a million children were deafened, disabled and many of them killed by the meningitis-A virus that swept through Africa’s sub-Saharan belt. Every year thousands of children in the 25 countries stretching from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east would get infected, but when the scourge hit its peak, national health ministers scrambled to find a solution. But at around $140 a dose, the vaccines retailed by Big Pharma were exorbitant.

That’s when the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) intervened. An international charity that promotes improved access to vaccines, GAVI partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Seattle-based not for-profit Path to design a vaccine for Africa—targeting the precise strain of disease while still being affordable. They roped in the Serum Institute of India (SII) to undertake the manufacturing and after four years of research, development and clinical trials in the mid-2000s, the vaccine—dubbed MenAfriVac and costing less than 50 cents a dose—was rolled out in 2010. Today, the meningitis-A virus has been all but wiped out of the vaccinated areas of the sub-Saharan belt.

“[SII’s] contribution to global health has been phenomenal,” noted Microsoft founder Bill Gates, during his visit to the vaccine-maker’s headquarters in Pune in 2012. (His foundation funds GAVI.) Founded by Cyrus Poonawalla in 1966, SII is the largest vaccine manufacturer in the world by number of doses produced. The privately-owned company claims to provide 1.3 billion shots every year to over 140 mostly low-and-middle-income countries.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 7, 2018-Ausgabe von Forbes India.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 7, 2018-Ausgabe von Forbes India.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS FORBES INDIAAlle anzeigen
Home-Cooked Meal Is Now Greatly Valued
Forbes India

Home-Cooked Meal Is Now Greatly Valued

The pandemic has also brought with it an improved focus on hygiene, use of technology in dining, rise of cloud kitchens and resurgence in popularity of Indian ingredients

time-read
8 Minuten  |
May 21, 2021
Paytm 3.0 - Reaching Near Breakeven In Two Years
Forbes India

Paytm 3.0 - Reaching Near Breakeven In Two Years

As of 2020, Vijay Shekhar Sharma’s super app for financial services had run up losses in thousands of crores. Now, as digital payments gets yet another boost courtesy Covid-19, he’s hopeful of reaching near breakeven in two years

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
June 4, 2021
THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED WOMEN GREATER LABOUR PAIN
Forbes India

THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED WOMEN GREATER LABOUR PAIN

Covid-19 has shown that women are more likely to face the brunt of job losses than men, and find fewer opportunities when they want to resume. That apart, several have to deal with increased hours of unpaid work at home and even domestic abuse

time-read
8 Minuten  |
May 21, 2021
LEADERSHIP WILL BE ABOUT SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE
Forbes India

LEADERSHIP WILL BE ABOUT SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE

Leaders must not only guard their teams first during a crisis, but also deal with stakeholders with respect and dignity. And apart from pursuing business goals, they should remain committed to our planet and the environment

time-read
7 Minuten  |
May 21, 2021
PHILANTHROPY SHOULD BE HUMBLE, BUT NOT MODEST
Forbes India

PHILANTHROPY SHOULD BE HUMBLE, BUT NOT MODEST

Apart from building a flexible and resilient framework for the future, philanthropists, civil society and the government must work in tandem so that every rupee is absorbed on the ground

time-read
9 Minuten  |
May 21, 2021
INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE, TECH WILL DISRUPT SECTOR
Forbes India

INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE, TECH WILL DISRUPT SECTOR

While clinical research will get a boost, having a skilled workforce and public spending on health care will be challenges in the near term

time-read
8 Minuten  |
May 21, 2021
DIGITALISATION WILL HELP IN VALUE CREATION
Forbes India

DIGITALISATION WILL HELP IN VALUE CREATION

As the pandemic brings technology and innovation to the core of business and daily life, the next decade will see about 150 million digital-first families in India

time-read
8 Minuten  |
May 21, 2021
Industry 4.0: Climate Revolution?
Forbes India

Industry 4.0: Climate Revolution?

Augmenting sustainability alongside digital capabilities is an economic, competitive and global opportunity for India’s businesses, but regulations need to reflect intent

time-read
10 Minuten  |
June 4, 2021
EV Dream Still Miles Away
Forbes India

EV Dream Still Miles Away

Electric vehicles have remained a buzzword in India for years. But not much has moved on ground due to high upfront costs, range anxiety and charging infrastructure

time-read
6 Minuten  |
June 4, 2021
Living Waters
Forbes India

Living Waters

A virus has caused us to scramble for oxygen but our chokehold on the environment is slowly strangling the very waters that breathe life into us. The virus is a timely reminder: We are merely consumers, not producers of life’s breath on this planet

time-read
4 Minuten  |
June 4, 2021