Indian vaccine maker working on a range of low-priced products

Mumbai

ASIA'S biggest vaccine maker is working on a string of new low-priced offerings that threaten to undercut brands from the world's biggest pharmaceutical companies.

Serum Institute of India Ltd, which makes vaccines injected in 65 per cent of the world's children, is targeting newer vaccines, including one for the human papillomavirus (HPV) that could be available in late 2018 and sell at a third of the price of Merck & Co's blockbuster Gardasil. Also in development are vaccines for types of severe diarrhoea and pneumonia.

The version of the HPV vaccine will initially be launched in developing countries and Serum aims…