COVAXIN: Transfer of Technology from Bharat Biotech to Haffkine

April 16, 2021

The Government of India recently approved the transfer of technology from Bharat Biotech to Hafkine Institute.

COVAXIN is one of the two drugs that is currently administered in India.
It is manufactured by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research.
The COVAXIN is produced by making the Corona Virus incapable of reproduction.
COVAXIN can be stored in 2 to 8 degrees Celsius temperature. This is one of the main reasons why India has chosen COVAXIN and COVISHIELD. Both these vaccines are highly suitable for Indian temperatures. Other vaccines such as Moderna require minus twenty degree Celsius and Pfizer require minus seventy degrees Celsius.
According to World Health Organisation, around half of the vaccines manufactured in the world go waste because of their failure to maintain storage temperatures.

It is one of the oldest biomedical research institutes of India. It was established in 1899 by Dr Waldermar Mordecai Haffkine. He initially formed the institute as Plague Research Laboratory. It was established as a bacteriological research centre. It is now affiliated to University of Mumbai.
The institute is located in Sans Pareil. Sans Pareil was the official residence of Governor of Bombay. It was built as a part of Jesuit Monastery on Parel Island. Jesuit is a member of the Society of Jesus.
William Hornby was the first Governor of Bombay to take up Sans Pareil as his residence.
In 1885, the Governor residence was moved to Malabar Hill. And thus, Haffkine moved into the building to set up the Plague Research Laboratory.