<div><em>Davinder Gill, CEO, Hilleman Laboratories, talks about the operating model, achievements and future of HL with <strong>Arshad Khan</strong></em></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Hilleman Laboratories, a Merck-Wellcome Trust joint-venture, started its operation in India to develop and deliver affordable vaccines, primarily for cholera and rotavirus in developing and third world countries. A venture of seven years and an equal investment of GBP 90 million, HL operates in a high-tech R&D centre in the campus of Jamia Humdard, New Delhi.</div><div> </div><div>Currently working on developing thermostable vaccine, a heat resilient vaccine, HL aims at lowering vaccine wastages up to a significant level. <strong>Davinder Gill, CEO, Hilleman Laboratories</strong> talks about the venture, operating model, achievements and future of HL when the venture will complete its tenure. Excerpts</div><div> </div><div><strong>What is this alliance all about? MSD-Wellcome Trust? Why did the two global entities decide to have their joint-venture in India?</strong></div><div>HL is an equal joint-venture of MSD-Wellcome Trust, with a combined investment of GBP 90 million. Both the global entities were thinking about setting a flagship institute purely focusing on vaccine R&D. We felt that there was a big gap when it comes to vaccine R&D. After a long discussion for suitable destination, we routed for India as it has a strong manufacturing base for vaccines. Five-six leading Indian firms produces millions of doses of vaccines for hundreds of countries. In addition, we have a very strong talent base of high quality professionals. Also there are lots of chances for collaborations with dynamic institutes.</div><div> </div><div><strong>Is it open ended or is there a time frame within which the alliance has to achieve certain mile stones?</strong></div><div>Actually its open ended. Initial commitment was made for seven years. That does not that there was some kind of clock has started. The notion was that seven years will be long enough for HL to be established. We are well on the way t\on establishment.</div><div> </div><div><strong>What is the focus of research?</strong></div><div>Our focus is to develop affordable vaccines for global health, mainly with the amalgamation of innovation and new technology. We are for income and not for profit firm. We are solely focused of affordable vaccine.</div><div> </div><div><strong>What is HL’s operating model? How is it different from a private vaccine company?</strong></div><div>We operate on a non-profit principle. We aren’t interested in developing ‘me-too’ kind of vaccines. We put a big emphasis on affordability. We being an R&D centre, our operating model rely heavily on collaborations and partnerships. We do not have commercial manufacturing capacity. We have to partner with companies to help us in commercialisation of our products.</div><div> </div><div><strong>What has been the achievement so far?</strong></div><div>Right now we have an established R&D facility with 40 scientists. We have initiated three major programmes in the field of Rotavirus vaccine, Cholera vaccine and Polysaccharide conjugate vaccine. We have formed partnership with institutes of Sweden and Bangladesh. We are also working with global stakeholder like WHO. We have a dialogue going on with DGCI for the clinical development of our products. In the last 3-4 years we have built a core presence in India.</div><div> </div><div><strong>What should the government do to promote drug research? </strong></div><div>The government has certainly made vaccines and drug development a big priority. Schemes like Indradhanush, which targets to achieve full coverage with basic vaccine by 2020 are laudable. Prime Minister also has added four new vaccines. The government through the department of biotechnology provides sufficient grants and incentives for R&D.</div><div> </div><div><strong>What is your take on the existing standard of vaccination in India?</strong></div><div>Vaccine industry surely has some issues but compared to pharma industry of the country, the concerns are on the lower side. Condition of cold chain storage in the country is bad. Cold storage system lacks manpower, maintenance and reliable supply of electricity. The decision of the government to increasing the coverage of immunisation will add more burden to the system. There should be more emphasis on improving the quality of production.</div><div> </div><div><strong>Can India contribute to original drug discovery? What should be its focus?</strong></div><div>Yes, it very much can. We have had examples in conventional drug system and vaccines in the last 5-10 years. Collaboration of multinationals with domestics firms will accelerate drug discovery in India.</div><div> </div><div>I feel the notion of domestic vaccine companies should not only be vaccines made in India but also vaccines made for India. Complex product like vaccines requires extra resources for storage, distribution and so on. My message for private companies is to focus on the aspect of affordability, thermo stability and easy distribution of vaccine.</div><div> </div><div><strong>Who are the major clients of Hillman Lab?</strong></div><div>The major clients of Hillman Lab include international Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Sweden based biopharma firm Gotovax AB and Dhaka based pharmaceutical firm Incepta, we are also in talks with major Indian companies.</div><div> </div><div><strong>How do you see Hilleman Laboratories, five years from now?</strong></div><div>We will use the foundational money in the first seven years to establish ourselves. Once we are established, our aim is to become financially independent sustainable through the sale of our technologies, products, applicants for grants, philanthropies and other mechanism. Our model will be for income, not for profit.</div>
