Cadila Healthcare has signed a technology agreement with Russian firm Pharm Aid Ltd for the production of varicella vaccine used to prevent virus causing chickenpox.

Through this agreement, Zydus Cadila (group firm) gains access to public and private market segments in the Russian Federation, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, the company said in a statement today.

“Our aim has always been to bridge unmet healtchcare needs by improving accessibility to preventives and novel therapies,” Zydus Cadila Managing Director Sharvil Patel said.

The agreement will bring together local manufacturing, distribution and managerial capabilities of the companies.

The company said it aims to bring in a continuous supply of vaccines which could be included in the critical childhood immunisation programme. The estimated demand for vaccines is 3 million doses per annum in the Russian Federation alone, it added.

Pharm Aid Ltd, a joint venture between Russian National Immunobiological Company (Nacimbio) and UAE-based Ishvan Pharmaceutical has been set up for localisation of vaccine production in Russia.

Cadila Healthcare stock was trading 0.18 per cent down at Rs 485.65 on BSE.