Panacea Biotec Ltd., well-reputed pharmaceutical company, has been pre-qualified by WHO for supplying its innovative combination vaccines for pediatric immunization - EasyFour (DTP + Hib) and Ecovac (DTP + Hep B).

In a notification, WHO has advised the UN procuring agencies regarding the acceptability of these vaccines worldwide.

The company is already a pre-qualified supplier of OPV and Hepatitis-B vacuities to UN agencies.

Panacea Biotec Ltd. is India’s highly progressive research based health management company involved in research, manufacturing and marketing of branded pharmaceutical formulations, vaccines and natural products. The product portfolio includes highly innovative prescription products in important therapeutic areas like pain management, diabetes & cardiovascular management, renal disease management, osteoporosis management, anti-tubercular, gastro-intestinal care products and vaccines.

Mr. Rajesh Jain, JMD of the Company said, "Panacea Biotec has built an innovative portfolio of combination vaccines which has enabled it achieve a leadership position in just about two years of its launch in India. With this pre-qualification by WHO, Panacea Biotec would participate in a large global market of combination vaccines for pediatric immunization."

The combined demand of all combination paediatric vaccines worldwide was valued at 600 million dollars in 2005 and is estimated to grow up to 1.6 billion dollars by 2012.

The stock of Panacea Biotec, on Friday, closed at Rs. 412 on NSE, up by 5% from its previous close of Rs. 391. It also touched an intraday high of Rs. 420 and low of Rs. 393 on Friday.