Gland Pharma buys Vitane’s assets to scale up production of Sputnik V

India’s largest injectables-focussed drug maker, Gland Pharma, has purchased the assets of biopharmaceuticals firm Vitane Biologics for ₹90 crore to scale up production of Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V in India.

Gland Pharma has an agreement with sovereign fund Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to manufacture the vaccine in India.

Fifteen-year-old Vitane Biologics is part of the Vitane group, which is into providing solutions for development, technology transfer and manufacture of biopharmaceuticals.


Vitane Biologics, with around 100 personnel, has a dedicated research and development facility and a manufacturing plant to handle both microbial and cell-culture-based platforms.

In an investor presentation after announcing its quarterly financial results, Gland Pharma said it would focus on the operational integration of the acquired biologics facility and additional capability building on vaccine manufacturing. It will also look to continue investments towards creating robust infrastructure for the vaccine and bio-similar space, the company added.

In the March quarter, Gland Pharma reported a 34% increase in post-tax profit at ₹260 crore. Revenue rose 37% to ₹935 crore.

In the fiscal year ended in March, Gland Pharma incurred a total capital expenditure of ₹228 crore, up from ₹195 crore the year before.