Sanofi-Aventis will buy Shantha Biotechnics, a Hyderabad, India-based vaccine company. According to an SA statement, “Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of the Sanofi-Aventis Group, will support Shantha’s ongoing development as a platform to address the need for high quality affordable vaccination in international markets.”

The transaction values Shantha at $780 million; the unit’s Shantha’s sales this fiscal year are projected to be $90 million. Shantha, founded in 1993, develops, manufactures and markets several vaccines. Dr Varaprasad Reddy, the founder of Shantha Biotechnics, will continue to lead the company as managing director.

Christopher A. Viehbacher, SA’s chief executive officer, commented, “Shantha provides Sanofi Pasteur with a portfolio of new vaccines in development which complement Sanofi Pasteur’s current vaccines, positioning the company to accelerate its growth in strategically important emerging markets.The state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities allow Sanofi Pasteur to gain high quality capacity in order to enable us to provide important vaccines at affordable prices to many people around the world.Our commitment to this objective is highlighted by the creation of a new Strategic Committee which I am delighted to announce will be chaired by Alain Mérieux.”

Shantha works with supranational organizations like UNICEF and PAHO to supply major international markets including Asia-Pacific, Africa and Latin America. In 1997, Shantha launched SHANVAC-B, the first recombinant Hepatitis B vaccine produced in India. SHANVAC-B, SHANTETRA (combination vaccine of Diphteria, Pertussis, Tetanus and Hepatitis B), SHAN5 (combination vaccine of Diphteria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Haemophilus influenza B and Hepatitis B) and SHANTT (Tetanus toxoid vaccine) are prequalified by the World Health Organization for supplying to United Nation agencies globally.Shantha also has an important portfolio of vaccines in development.