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Shantha Biologics to Produce Injectable Cartridges for Novo Nordisk's Diabetes Drugs

Published on: 02 Jul 2026, 02:21 PM

Vaccine maker Shantha Biologics has entered into an agreement with Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk to manufacture cartridges for injectable medicines at its Hyderabad plant. The company will perform cartridge fill-finish services, the final and highly sensitive step in producing drugs such as insulin and other injectable therapies.

Under the agreement, Shantha Biologics will fill cartridges and prepare them for use in pen injectors, enabling patients to self-administer medication at home. The process requires sterile, contamination-free conditions and precise dosing accuracy, as the drug is delivered directly into the body. This manufacturing format is used for chronic conditions including diabetes, obesity, and oncology treatments.

Financial terms and production volumes were not disclosed. Novo Nordisk is known for its diabetes and obesity drugs Ozempic and Wegovy.

Shantha Biologics director Vishy Chebrol stated that the partnership validates the quality of the company's site, processes, and technical capability. He added that it strengthens the case for India as a serious partner in advanced manufacturing, not just a low-cost production base.

Shantha Biologics, originally established as a vaccine company in 1993 by Varaprasad Reddy, underwent a change in ownership in 2024 under a consortium led by Ravi Penmetsa and Vishy Chebrol. The company now operates two businesses: vaccines and cartridge fill-finish services for injectable drugs such as insulin, GLP-1 therapies, and antibody treatments.

The contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) market for biologic drugs—medicines made from living cells—is growing rapidly. Industry estimates cited by Shantha Biologics valued the market at $25.32 billion in 2025, expected to reach $38.29 billion by 2031.

The company plans to expand in vaccines, biologics, and injectable manufacturing. Its workforce in Hyderabad is expected to increase to around 500 employees in the near future.

Source: The Hindu

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