Cadila Healthcare has entered into a definitive agreement with Shilpa Medicare through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Shilpa Biologics for production-supply of the ZyCoV-D vaccine drug substance from its integrated biologics R&D cum manufacturing centre at Dharwad, Karnataka.

The targeted production of the vaccine from this facility will be mutually agreed upon by both companies. Shilpa Biologics facility at Dharwad would cater to the requirements of the fast-growing biologics business that include the DNA vaccine, adenoviral, subunit vaccines, monoclonal antibodies & fusion proteins.

ZyCoV-D is the first DNA plasmid vaccine for human use, developed indigenously by the company against the Covid-19 virus. It is also the first Covid-19 vaccine for adolescents in the 12-18 age group, besides the adult population and is a needle-free vaccine administered using The PharmaJet, a needle-free applicator, which ensures painless intradermal vaccine delivery. The company will transfer the ZyCoV-D technology to Shilpa Biologics will be responsible for the manufacture of the drug substance of the vaccine, while Cadila is responsible for filling/packaging/distribution/marketing of the vaccine in its marketing territories.

Shilpa Biologics has identified biologics business as a strategic growth engine and it has made significant investments in setting up a high end, flexible biologics facility. This facility at Dharwad would cater to the requirements of the fast-growing biologics field, which include the DNA vaccine, adenoviral, subunit vaccines, monoclonal antibodies & fusion proteins.