Poonawalla Grp acquires global vaccine company in Netherlands

Serum Institute of India, the flagship company of the over $1 billion Poonawalla Group and India's largest vaccine company, today announced the acquisition of Bilthoven Biologicals of Netherlands.

Through the acquisition, the Serum Institute will get access to technology and expertise for making the Injectable Polio Vaccine (Salk), the company said in a release.

This first overseas acquisition will also provide the Group and Serum Institute an important manufacturing base in Europe with access to important European and US markets.

"The acquisition will significantly strengthen our position in the global vaccines market, while giving us access to the technology and production facility of Injectable Polio Vaccine (Salk), the only logical solution available for the eradication of polio," Poonawalla Group and Serum Institute Chairman Cyrus Poonawalla said.

It also gives the Poonawalla Group an important operational and strategic platform in Europe and the US, with the important manufacturing base in the Netherlands, he said.

"This will also significantly enhance our earlier offerings in the paediatric vaccines segment, including DPT, Measles and MMR vaccines, where we are the global leaders today," he added.

Bilthoven Biologicals was owned by the The Netherlands government, from which the Serum Institute of India (Cyrus Poonawalla Group) has acquired 100 per cent shares.

Sharing the future outlook for the company, Poonawalla Group and Serum Institute Executive Director Adar Poonawalla said, "We are committed to invest over Euros 70-80 million over the next three years to augment the infrastructure and enhance the manufacturing capacity of the Bilthoven's facilities."

Serum Institute has one of the world's largest vaccine manufacturing facilities at Pune.