How Biological E could emerge as game changer in India's vaccine race

Company scales up its ambition after government advanced it Rs 1,500 crore for 300 million doses of its vaccine candidate.

A few weeks ago, Hydera­bad-based Biological E made headlines by becoming the second created-in-India vaccine player with the government announcing an advance of Rs 1,500 crore for 300 million doses of its candidate Corbevax, which is awaiting the drug regulator’s approval. This order is part of a larger vaccine plan by this 73-year-old company, currently the world’s largest producer of tetanus vaccines.

The sheer volumes could make Biological E, considered a dark horse in the business, a game-changer, more so because Corbevax is not its only bet. Last year, Mahima Datla, MD and CEO and granddaughter of the founder, told