Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech International Limited, a pioneer in regional biotechnology had recently launched "Revac-B" (Recombinant vaccine for Hepatitis-B) and dedicated the manufacturing facility near Hyderabad to the scientists of the nation.

Speaking on the occasion Bharat Ratna Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam said that the nation has all the technology that it needs and lauded the company for its controbution in developing the vaccine at an affordable price.

He said that this virus is more fatal and about one per cent of the population are affected. HIV and Malaria are the two other dreaded diseases to which viable alternative remedies and vaccines have to be developed, he observed.

Meanwhile, Dr. Krishna Ella, managing director, said that population and Malaria are two problems that are plaguing the society and plans are on the anvil by the company for developing a non profit malaria vaccine.

He said that the company always targets for a quality product and hence would strive to develop quality product only.

Dr. Ella said that the present project is a scientific project and Industrial Development bank of India (IDBI) has advanced a sum of Rs. 5.5 crore while the Technology Development Board has released a loan amount of Rs. 3.5 crore.

Dr. Kakarla Subba Rao, director, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, while asserting that the main goal should be to alienate poverty in the country, said that Hyderabad had become the centre for pharmaceutical industries

Mr. S B Krishna, Secretary, Technology Development Board said that it is a competition against a killer disease and congratulated Dr. Krishna Ella for his efforts.

Dr. G. Padmanabhan, emeritus professor, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore pointed out that we have to protect our people from several diseases and no one will solve this problem. We have to do this ourselves, he said.

Mrs. Suchitra Ella proposed vote of thanks.

Revac-B is a vaccine for Hepatitis-B developed indigenously using the recombinant DNA technology route. Bharat Biotech International Limited is one of the four companies in the world to possess technology for production of Hepatitis-B vaccine which is approved by WHO, US-FDA and European Community drug regulation authorities.

IDBI is an equity partner inthe project and working capital was sanctioned by State Bank of India.

The company is also seeking viable alternative remedies for diseases endemic to the Asian region. Emphasis is on developing the next generation of vaccines and drugs through original recombinant DNA research. Remedies to combat afflictions of the heart, pancreas, liver, kidney and nervous system are at various stages of development.