Hyderabad India-based Bharat Biotech, a major vaccines and bio-therapeutics manufacturer in India, announced a collaboration with Bilthoven Biologicals B.V., the Netherlands-based wholly-owned subsidiary of Serum Institute of India. The partnership aims to strengthen the production and supply security of oral polio vaccines.
Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a highly contagious and potentially disabling viral disease that can lead to permanent paralysis. The polio virus spreads from person to person and was once a major public health concern globally. Under this new agreement, Bharat Biotech will procure the drug substances required for the oral polio vaccine production from Bilthoven Biologicals for supply within India and internationally.
The two companies will jointly obtain necessary regulatory approvals and licenses to commercially manufacture the vaccine in India. This collaboration highlights cooperation between vaccine makers to ensure a secure supply of the vaccine, bolstering efforts toward polio eradication.
India began polio vaccination in 1978 and joined global eradication efforts. The government launched the Pulse Polio immunization campaign in 1995 to combat the then hyper-endemic disease. Following intensive vaccination drives, the last polio case in India was reported in West Bengal in 2011. Three years later, in 2014, the World Health Organization declared India polio-free.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
