SII aims to boost supply of cervical cancer shots ahead of government's mass drive

CEO Adar Poonawalla said that he expects the vaccine to be a part of the government's programme by year-end.

Serum Institute of India aims to significantly boost supply of its human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as it gears up to provide its shots to the government at cheaper rates for an immunisation campaign this year against the cancer-causing virus.

Adar Poonawalla, the CEO of the world's biggest vaccine maker by the number of doses, told Reuters that he expects the vaccine to be a part of the government's programme by year-end.

The vaccine, currently available in the private market for 2,000 rupees ($24.13), is India's first indigenous shot against HPV that plays a role in causing most cervical cancers in the world.

"Our capacity at the moment is just a few million doses but the demand is infinite. If we were to roll out 50 million doses in India, they would be used up, both in the private market and the government procurement scheme," said Poonawalla.

The government is set to administer the HPV vaccine to girls aged between nine and 14 years as part of a campaign to fight cervical cancer, the second-most common type of cancer in women in India.

There is no contract yet with the government, Poonawalla said, adding that he expects the authorities to initially procure between 40 to 50 million doses through a tender process in December.

Other HPV vaccine makers include Merck & Co and GSK Plc, who could also bid for government contracts.

"It's still a bit early to say but we're just poised and very committed to this product," he said.

Poonawalla expects the vaccine to be "substantially, probably eight times, cheaper" when supplied to the government.

Serum produces AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine under the brand name Covishield in India.

The company's HPV facilities, which were used during the pandemic to manufacture Covishield are still not entirely operational, restraining full capacity, according to Serum.

The company is in the process of applying for WHO's pre-qualification and Poonawalla expects to begin exporting the HPV shots to other countries in 2026.