Hyderabad., September 15, 2004: Bharat Biotech International Limited has been awarded Dr. Sir M. Visvesvaraya Industrial Award for Best Technology Effort (Biotechnology) for HIMAX Technology by All India Manufacturers Organisation (AIMO), Andhra Pradesh State Board (APSB) for the Year 2004. Mrs. Suchitra Ella, the Founder Director of Bharat Biotech received the award from H.E. Shri Surjit Singh Barnala, the Governor of Andhra Pradesh at the Annual Function of AIMO (APSB) held at Jubilee Hall, Republic Gardens on Wednesday.

"It was Himax Technology that paved way for Bharat Biotech launching its flagship product Revac-B at such an affordable price," said Mrs. Ella speaking on the occasion. "HIMAX Technology is an innovative process for purification of Hepatitis B Surface protein (HBsAg) from recombinant yeast in manufacture of Hepatitis B vaccine (Revac-B)," she added.

HIMAX eliminates ultra-centrifugation and the use of toxic metals such as Cesium Chloride while increasing the recovery of antigenic protein to levels highest in the world. Recovery of HBsAg was 77% and 80% by this unique method developed entirely by Bharat Biotech's in-house R&D compared to the existing methodologies.

This pioneering technology has resulted in Bharat Biotech's flagship product - Revac-B, the world's first Recombinant Hepatitis-B vaccine to be manufactured without the use of Caesium Chloride.

The HIMAX Technology has played a vital role in bringing down the cost of the production of Hepatitis - B vaccine making it affordable for millions across the country and for other developing countries.

To date more than 40 million doses of Revac-B, Hepatitis B vaccine have been dispensed in India, Latin America and in Africa.