Ready with 30 crore doses, can scale up production if needed: Corbevax makers

According to Biological E Limited MD Mahima Datla, the pricing of CORBEVAX in the private market will be Rs 800. The vaccine is being sold at Rs 145 per dose to the government

3 min readPuneUpdated: Mar 17, 2022 07:36 AM IST

A boy receives a dose of Covid vaccine during a vaccination drive organised for children, in Thergaon PCMC on Wednesday (Express photo by Rajesh Stephen)

Biotech firm Biological E. Limited is geared to facilitate the first phase of the vaccination drive for the 12-15 age group and is ready with 30 crore doses of which five crore has been rolled out to 17 different sites in the country, said a top official of the firm.

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“This is the most affordable COVID-19 vaccine for the Government of India which is providing free vaccination to all eligible citizens. The pricing of CORBEVAX in the private market will be Rs 800 (and inclusive of all taxes and vaccine administration charges will cost Rs 990) The vaccine is being sold at Rs 145 per dose to the government,” Mahima Datla, managing director of Biological E. Limited said at a virtual media interaction on Wednesday.

“We have an annual production capacity upto one billion vaccines,” Datla said. The firm collaborated with the Texas Children’s Hospital and the Baylor College to develop Corbevax vaccine. Dynavax, Inc from USA supported Corbevax development by providing the adjuvant and THSTI Delhi conducted key immunogenicity testing as part of a comprehensive clinical trial development plan.

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“Biological E. Limited has been strengthening its production and supply chain facilities to ensure the efficient and fast administration of vaccines with the highest safety standards. Biological E Limited has achieved a capacity to produce 100+ million doses per month in order to ensure adequate supply and we are able to respond to any increasing demand too, should the need arise,” Datla added.

BIRAC, a division of Department of Biotechnology, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Coalition for Epidemic Prevention and Innovation (CEPI) provided partial funding during clinical development. Corbevax is a recombinant protein subunit vaccine against the novel coronavirus and has been given emergency use authorisation (EUA) for children aged 12-18 years and adults from 18-80 yrs. Corbevax is administered through intramuscular route with two doses scheduled 28 days apart and is stored at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius.

Biological E limited had begun manufacturing the vaccine for stockpiling after approval, based on the clinical evidence and review by experts. Multiple company facilities in Hyderabad are currently producing and will continue to produce the vaccine. The group will leverage its robust pan-India presence and partner with the state governments, hospitals and medical institutions to facilitate the supply of Corbevax COVID-19 vaccine. To date, 30 crore vaccines have been produced as part of the commitment made to the Government of India.

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Corbevax is a a recombinant protein subunit vaccine against the novel coronavirus. Corbevax induced immune response was indicative of over 90% effectiveness against the Ancestral strain; while >80% in the case of the Delta strain based on the level of neutralizing antibody titers. Corbevax vaccination generates antibody response that that is highly persistent for more than 6 months post vaccination.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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