Bharat Acquires GSK’s Chiron Behring Vaccines

Bharat Biotech, a biotechnology company focused on developing and manufacturing vaccines and therapeutics, announced a deal to acquire Chiron Behring Vaccines from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Asia on Feb. 15, 2019. 

Bharat will acquire 100% equity stake in Chiron Behring in an all cash transaction subject to a number of closing conditions, which Bharat and GSK intend to complete in the coming weeks following this announcement. Specific financial details were not disclosed.

Chiron Behring is a World Health Organization-prequalified manufacturer of rabies vaccines eligible for supplies to United Nations agencies and has product registrations in more than 20 countries. Located in Ankleshwar, Gujarat, India, Chiron Behring is the result of the 1998 purchase of German life-sciences company Hoechst’s vaccines business by Chiron Corporation USA, which was later acquired by Novartis and then sold to GSK in 2015. 

Bharat reports that the addition of this rabies vaccine will establish Bharat Biotech as a global leader in rabies vaccines manufacturing. The company plans to enhance manufacturing capabilities at Chiron Behring Vaccines and expand market access through product registrations in additional high-demand countries. 

“This acquisition is strategic in helping us enhance our opportunities to achieve greater scale in tackling public health problems,” said Dr. Krishna Ella, chairman and managing director of Bharat Biotech, in a company press release. “Bharat Biotech will strengthen its product portfolio and substantially increase product availability in response to the growing demand for this vaccine.”

Source: Bharat Biotech