How it started
Bilthoven Biologicals emerged after privatizing NVI, formerly part of RIVM. The Cyrus Poonawalla Group acquired the vaccine producing part of NVI in 2012 and founded Bilthoven Biologicals.
Our history
We originated from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). Here the development and production of vaccines started. In 2003, the activities for the national vaccination programme were continued under the name Dutch Vaccine Institute (NVI). An estimated 30% of vaccines produced globally are made with technology developed in Bilthoven.
Cyrus Poonawalla Group
Bilthoven Biologicals (BBio) originated after privatizing NVI. The Cyrus Poonawalla Group acquired the vaccine producing part of NVI and founded BBio. This resulted in a powerful combination of knowledge, network and facilities we employ daily to achieve our ambitions.
Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla is CEO of the Cyrus Poonawalla group. He built Serum Institute of India, a successful vaccine conglomerate which is the world’s largest vaccine producer in sheer volume. He learned his trade at USPB, then called Antonie van Leeuwenhoek site.
In the 1970’s, the Dutch government took part in an exchange programme, inviting students from developing nations to learn how to develop vaccines. This way, we achieved using this knowledge by developing nations.
Dr. Poonawalla made his company Serum Institute of India (SII) into a vaccine conglomerate. He bought the production part of the Dutch Vaccine Institute (NVI) in 2012, resulting in Bilhoven Biologicals. The acquisition of BBio resulted in a massive increase in production of polio vaccines. This contributes greatly to the effort to eradicate polio globally!
