Vaccine maker Serum Institute of India (SII) has picked up a 50 per cent stake in specialty glass company Schott AG’s Indian joint venture, Schott Kaisha, from the former co-owners Kairus Dadachanji and Shapoor Mistry for an undisclosed sum.

While the deal helps SII to have more control over its supply chain (glass vials are a critical component of vaccine packaging), it also helps the Kaisha group to focus on their other pharmaceutical ventures.

Sources in the know say that now Dadachanji and Mistry would focus on bringing in new pharmaceutical products – both drugs and drug delivery systems – to the frontend of the market. Kaisha Group companies such as Sovereign Pharma are contract manufacturers and make drugs like remdesivir for Cipla and other companies which market it. Kaisha Group now wants to have a frontend presence itself through brand launches, sources indicated.

Schott Kaisha is a leading Indian manufacturer of pharma packaging products like vials, syringes, ampoules, and cartridges that are used to package medicines.

Adar Poonawalla, CEO, SII said, “Even the best medication can’t reach the patient without the right packaging. Securing this supply chain is of strategic importance. Schott is the perfect partner for us to do this because of their expertise and global network.”

Poonawalla said that as a longtime customer, they use Schott Kaisha’s vials, ampoules and syringes to store our vaccines including Covishield.

With this acquisition, SII is securing its supply of pharma packaging amid rising global demand.