Europe 1 was able to visit the premises of the Serum Institute of India, the largest vaccine manufacturer in the world, whose activity has increased tenfold since last May.

The laboratory, engaged in intense global competition, is preparing to release millions of doses by the end of December. 

REPORTAGE

With its 55 hectares protected as a military base, housing 50 factories and an airstrip, the Serum Institute of India looks like a city within a city.

Everywhere in this pharmaceutical laboratory located in Pune, not far from Bombay, buildings seem to rise from the ground and workers are busy.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, it was already the world's largest vaccine manufacturer.

From now on, its activity is doubling.

On a war footing from last May, the Serum Institute of India is working with Oxford on the AstraZeneca vaccine.

And is preparing to produce 100 million vials of ten doses by the end of December.

>> LIVE -

Coronavirus: follow the evolution of the situation Sunday, December 13

Ultra-confidentiality

This intense activity demanded money.

A lot of money.

"We calculated that with new factories, it would be easy for us to produce a billion doses per year," said Suresh Jadav, executive director of the private laboratory.

"So the Serum Institute has invested $ 250 million. The Global Alliance for Vaccines [Gavi, an international organization] has funded us to the tune of an additional $ 300 million."

Endless corridors, sterile rooms, high-tech machines, employees in gowns and bottles that come out on the line: one of the factories that already produces the vaccine, called Covishield, looks like the image we have of 'a laboratory of this scale.

Including at the level of security.

If we were able to visit the premises, we were prohibited from broadcasting the words of the scientists present there.

The policy of the house is ultra-confidentiality.

A cheaper vaccine for poor countries

The Covishield must first benefit India, which should administer it from January to its healthcare and municipal staff.

That is to say, because we are talking about the second largest population in the world, some 30 million people.

Then, it will be the turn of the rest of the population and the 57 countries that benefit from Gavi aid, ie the poorest countries, mainly in Africa.

For them, the CEO of the Serum Institute, Adar Poonawala, has pledged to provide a vaccine costing less than 3 euros per dose.

For the moment, no contract is planned with France. 

>> Find the Carnets du monde podcast and replay here

But while it is well advanced in production, the Serum Institute is not alone.

It faces immense global competition, for example with the vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech, already administered in Great Britain, or the Russian Sputnik V.

In India too, other giant producers, such as Bharat Biotech or Zydus-Cadillac, are about to launch their own product.

Intense global competition

Nothing to worry about Suresh Jadav, who quickly does the math.

“Even if we only vaccinate 75% of the planet, it will take 12 billion doses,” recalls the executive director of the Serum Institute.

"No producer has these capabilities today. So we're going to need everyone at the start."

And after ?

"The competition will be played on the choice of vaccine from the States. They will base this on several criteria. Is the vaccine safe? Is it effective? Does it immunize in the long term?"

But logistical considerations will also be taken into account.

"Is it easy to store, transport, administer?"

CORONAVIRUS ESSENTIALS

> Covid-19 vaccines: what do we really know about their side effects?

> What do we know about "long Covid", these patients who are going through hell?

> These three facets of the coronavirus that you may not have heard of

> When are we in contact?

And other questions that we ask ourselves every day

> Coronavirus: the 5 mistakes not to make with your mask

Almost ready, the Covishield vaccine is still in phase 3 of testing.

The Serum Institute has asked the WHO for emergency authorization to market it and has already signed another contract with the American laboratory Novavax for a billion doses of another vaccine.

Hyperactivity that pays off: the Serum Institute is now worth more than $ 10 billion.