Bharat Biotech

Corporate brand

Bharat Biotech is an Indian biotechnology company developing and manufacturing vaccines, biotherapeutics, pharmaceuticals, and other healthcare products.

Last updated November 1, 2026

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Overview

Bharat Biotech International Limited is an Indian biotechnology company headquartered in Hyderabad and focused on drug discovery, drug development, and the manufacture of vaccines, biotherapeutics, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare products. Its principal manufacturing operation is located in Genome Valley, Hyderabad, one of India's major life-sciences clusters. The company operates internationally and, according to the cited reference material, had more than 700 employees as of July 2020. The company has built its identity around vaccine research and production for infectious diseases affecting both Indian and international populations. Its portfolio includes vaccines associated with Japanese encephalitis, influenza A(H1N1), rabies, and other viral and bacterial diseases. Bharat Biotech has also worked on vaccines for emerging infections, including chikungunya and Zika, and maintains biosafety level 3 laboratory capabilities for work requiring enhanced containment. One of its best-known achievements is ROTAVAC, a recombinant and naturally attenuated rotavirus vaccine developed to address severe diarrhoeal disease. The company has also developed a tetanus-toxoid conjugated typhoid vaccine, described in the reference material as the first vaccine of its type. These products reflect Bharat Biotech's emphasis on vaccine platforms intended for large-scale public-health use, including products designed for diseases that impose a substantial burden in lower- and middle-income countries. Bharat Biotech became especially prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic through the development of Covaxin, an inactivated-virus COVID-19 vaccine developed with support from India's National Institute of Virology and the Indian Council of Medical Research. The company received Indian regulatory permission in June 2020 to conduct Phase I and Phase II clinical trials, with trial sites selected by the Indian Council of Medical Research. Covaxin later became a major part of India's domestic COVID-19 vaccination response and was authorized for use in children aged two to eighteen in October 2021, according to the reference material. The company has also pursued intranasal COVID-19 vaccine research. In 2020 it announced work on BBV154, a single-dose intranasal candidate developed with Precision Virologics and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Separately, Bharat Biotech partnered with FluGen and the University of Wisconsin-Madison in April 2020 on COVID-19 vaccine development. As of May 2025, the reference material states that Bharat Biotech had delivered more than nine billion vaccine doses globally, held more than 145 global patents, maintained a portfolio of more than 19 vaccines and four biotherapeutics, and had registrations in more than 125 countries. The company is therefore positioned as an export-oriented Indian vaccine manufacturer with capabilities spanning discovery, clinical development, regulatory registration, and industrial production. Its current profile combines established immunization products with continued research into emerging pathogens and next-generation delivery methods, including oral and intranasal vaccines.

History

Bharat Biotech International Limited is an Indian biotechnology company based in Hyderabad. Its activities cover the full vaccine and biopharmaceutical development chain, including discovery, development, manufacturing, and international registration. The company's main manufacturing facility is situated in Genome Valley, Hyderabad, and its laboratory infrastructure includes biosafety level 3 facilities. The company developed a business and scientific profile centered on vaccines for infectious diseases. Its portfolio has included products associated with Japanese encephalitis, influenza A(H1N1), rabies, rotavirus, typhoid, and other viral or bacterial diseases. Bharat Biotech's work on rotavirus led to ROTAVAC, described in the reference material as an eco-friendly recombinant and naturally attenuated vaccine. The company also developed a tetanus-toxoid conjugated typhoid vaccine, identified as the first vaccine of its kind. These programs placed the company within India's expanding vaccine and biotechnology sector while also giving it an international public-health orientation. Bharat Biotech has pursued research into diseases that have historically affected populations in developing countries as well as diseases that can produce global outbreaks. The reference material identifies the company as one of the early developers of vaccines for chikungunya and Zika. Its activities extend beyond conventional vaccine products to biotherapeutics, pharmaceuticals, and other healthcare products. The COVID-19 pandemic marked a major turning point in the company's public profile. In April 2020, Bharat Biotech announced a collaboration with FluGen and the University of Wisconsin-Madison to explore a COVID-19 vaccine. In May of that year, India's National Institute of Virology, under the Indian Council of Medical Research, approved and supplied virus strains for development of an indigenous vaccine. On June 29, 2020, India's Drugs Controller General authorized Phase I and Phase II clinical trials for Covaxin. The trial program used randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies at twelve sites selected by the Indian Council of Medical Research, and the Central Drug Laboratory in Kasauli was involved in testing experimental batches. Bharat Biotech also announced a separate intranasal COVID-19 program in September 2020. Codenamed BBV154, the candidate was described as a single-dose intranasal vaccine being developed with Precision Virologics and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Covaxin subsequently received approval for use in children aged two to eighteen on October 12, 2021, according to the cited material. The company attracted adverse attention in March 2021 when Reuters reported that Red Apollo, characterized as a Chinese state-backed cyber-espionage group, had targeted Bharat Biotech's intellectual property for exfiltration. The report illustrates the strategic value of vaccine research and manufacturing knowledge during the pandemic, but the supplied material does not establish that confidential information was successfully stolen. By May 2025, Bharat Biotech was reported to have delivered more than nine billion vaccine doses worldwide. It was also reported to hold more than 145 global patents, maintain a portfolio of over 19 vaccines and four biotherapeutics, and have product registrations in more than 125 countries. In the same period, the company completed Phase III clinical trials of Hillchol, an oral cholera vaccine showing efficacy against both Ogawa and Inaba serotypes. These developments reinforce Bharat Biotech's position as a research-led Indian vaccine producer with a substantial international manufacturing and distribution footprint.

2025
Hillchol Phase III trials completed
[1]Bharat Biotechen.wikipedia.org
The company completed Phase III clinical trials of its oral cholera vaccine Hillchol, reporting efficacy against the Ogawa and Inaba serotypes.
2021
Covaxin cleared for children aged two to eighteen
[1]Bharat Biotechen.wikipedia.org
Covaxin received approval for use in children between two and eighteen years of age.
2020
COVID-19 research partnerships announced
[1]Bharat Biotechen.wikipedia.org
Bharat Biotech announced collaborations with FluGen and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and separately pursued an intranasal vaccine program with Precision Virologics and Washington University School of Medicine.
2020
Covaxin clinical development authorized in India
[1]Bharat Biotechen.wikipedia.org
India authorized Phase I and Phase II clinical trials for Covaxin, with twelve trial sites selected by the Indian Council of Medical Research.

Products and positioning

An Indian, internationally oriented biotechnology and vaccine manufacturer combining infectious-disease research, clinical development, biosafety capabilities, and large-scale vaccine production. The brand is particularly associated with public-health immunization, products for diseases prevalent in emerging markets, and indigenous vaccine development.

Rotavirus vaccine
ROTAVAC
ROTAVAC is Bharat Biotech's rotavirus vaccine, described in the reference material as an eco-friendly recombinant and naturally attenuated vaccine. It represents the company's work on preventing severe diarrhoeal disease and illustrates its focus on vaccines intended for broad public-health deployment.
COVID-19 vaccine · 2020
Covaxin
Covaxin is Bharat Biotech's indigenous COVID-19 vaccine developed with support from India's National Institute of Virology and the Indian Council of Medical Research. The candidate entered Indian Phase I and Phase II clinical trials in 2020 and was later approved for use in children aged two to eighteen.
Intranasal COVID-19 vaccine candidate · 2020
BBV154
BBV154 is a single-dose intranasal COVID-19 vaccine candidate announced by Bharat Biotech in 2020. The program was developed with Precision Virologics and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and was described as undergoing clinical trials in the supplied reference material.
Oral cholera vaccine
Hillchol
Hillchol is Bharat Biotech's oral cholera vaccine. The reference material states that the company completed Phase III clinical trials in 2025 and demonstrated efficacy against both the Ogawa and Inaba serotypes.
Typhoid vaccine
Typhoid conjugate vaccine
Bharat Biotech developed a tetanus-toxoid conjugated typhoid vaccine, described in the reference material as the world's first vaccine using that conjugation approach. The product reflects the company's focus on improving immunization options for bacterial diseases.

Controversies

2021
Brazil suspends Covaxin contract amid allegations
Brazil's health ministry announced a temporary suspension of the Covaxin contract amid allegations of possible corruption and irregularities in the vaccine deal. Bharat Biotech denied wrongdoing related to vaccine supply.
Source

2020
Proceed with Covaxin clinical developmentProduct launch
Background
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bharat Biotech worked with India's National Institute of Virology and the Indian Council of Medical Research on an indigenous vaccine candidate.
Action taken
The company advanced Covaxin into Phase I and Phase II clinical trials after receiving authorization from India's Drugs Controller General.
Aftermath
Covaxin became a prominent Bharat Biotech product and was later approved for children aged two to eighteen.
Source
2020
Develop an intranasal COVID-19 vaccine candidateProduct launch
Background
The pandemic created demand for vaccine delivery methods beyond conventional injections.
Action taken
Bharat Biotech announced manufacturing support for BBV154, a single-dose intranasal candidate developed with Precision Virologics and Washington University School of Medicine.
Aftermath
The candidate entered clinical development, although the supplied material does not provide a final commercial outcome.
Source

Recent events

2026-10-24
Bharat Biotech announces lower Mosqivac price[3]Bharat Biotech宣布降低Mosqivac价格thehindu.com
Reported: 2026-10-23
Bharat Biotech announced that the price of its Mosqivac malaria vaccine would be reduced by about 40%, from €9.30 to €5.50 per dose, under an agreement executed by UNICEF and financially backed by Gavi. The lower price is expected to take effect by early 2027.
2026-10-23
Bharat Biotech announces lower malaria vaccine price[4]Bharat Biotech宣布降低疟疾疫苗价格news.webindia123.com
Reported: 2026-10-23
Bharat Biotech announced an agreement with UNICEF, financially backed by Gavi, to reduce the price of the Mosqivac malaria vaccine by approximately 40 per cent, to EUR 5.50 per dose. The lower price is expected to take effect by early 2027.
2026-10-23
Bharat Biotech agrees to reduce Mosqivac price[5]Bharat Biotech 同意下调 Mosqivac 疫苗价格timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Reported: 2026-10-23
Bharat Biotech said it reached an equitable pricing agreement with Gavi and UNICEF to reduce the price of its Mosqivac malaria vaccine by about 40%, to €5.50 per dose from early 2027.
2021-06-30
Brazil suspends Covaxin contract amid allegations[2]Brazil suspends Covaxin contract amid allegationsoutlookindia.com
Reported: 2021-06-30
Brazil’s health ministry announced a temporary suspension of the Covaxin contract amid allegations of possible corruption and irregularities in the vaccine deal. Bharat Biotech denied wrongdoing related to vaccine supply.
2021-04-29
Bharat Biotech reduces Covaxin price for states[6]Bharat Biotech 下调 Covaxin 对各邦的售价business-standard.com
Reported: 2021-04-29
Bharat Biotech reduced the price of Covaxin for state governments from Rs 600 to Rs 400 per dose.
2021-04-24
Bharat Biotech announces Covaxin prices for state and private hospitals[7]Bharat Biotech公布Covaxin面向州立及私立医院的价格aninews.in
Reported: 2021-04-24
Bharat Biotech announced that Covaxin would be available to state hospitals for Rs 600 per dose and private hospitals for Rs 1,200 per dose.
2020-09-23
Bharat Biotech signs COVID-19 vaccine licensing agreement[8]Bharat Biotech 签署 COVID-19 疫苗许可协议oneindia.com
Reported: 2020-09-23
Bharat Biotech signed a licensing agreement with Washington University School of Medicine for a single-dose intranasal COVID-19 vaccine. Bharat Biotech holds distribution rights in all markets except the US, Japan and Europe.
2020-07-22
Dr. Dangs Lab selected for Covaxin clinical trials[9]Dr. Dangs Lab获选参与Covaxin临床试验indianexpress.com
Reported: 2020-07-22
Dr. Dangs Lab was selected to partner with Bharat Biotech as the central laboratory for human clinical trials of Covaxin and was processing samples for screening and safety testing.
2020-05-09
ICMR and Bharat Biotech partner to develop a COVID-19 vaccine[10]印度医学研究理事会与巴拉特生物技术公司合作研发新冠疫苗business-standard.com
Reported: 2020-05-09
The Indian Council of Medical Research partnered with Bharat Biotech International Limited to develop an indigenous COVID-19 vaccine using a virus strain isolated at ICMR's National Institute of Virology. Vaccine development work had begun, and ICMR-NIV was to provide ongoing support.
2019-12-03
Bharat Biotech launches Rotavac 5D vaccine[11]Bharat Biotech推出Rotavac 5D疫苗thehindubusinessline.com
Reported: 2019-12-03
Bharat Biotech launched Rotavac 5D, an advanced version of its rotavirus vaccine, to tackle viral diarrhoea.

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