Zydus Cadila has received the Drug Controller General's approval to market its H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine.

Zydus Cadila, now becomes the first company to launch H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine in India under the brand name VaxiFlu-S. VaxiFlu-S will be marketed by Vaxxicure, a division of the group focusing on preventives.

The egg-based inactivated vaccine has been developed at the company's Vaccine Technology Centre in Ahmedabad.

VTC further plans to develop a wide spectrum of vaccines against bacterial, viral and protonoal infections.

The group also markets Vaccines for rabies and typhoid.

Zydus Cadila CMD Pankaj Patel, said, "By launching this vaccine, we would be better prepared with an affordable therapy and prevent further loss of lives to this infectious disease. The launch of Vaxi Flu-S gives thrust to our objective of emerging as a strong player in the area of preventives."

In India out of the 1,39,466 tested for flu-like symptoms, 23 per cent of them tested positive for Swine flu, Cadila said in a statement.

India has also recorded a 523-per cent fatality rate, which is higher than the global rate. There have been incidences of H1N1 with cases being reported from Pune, Coimbatore and Chennai.

Cadila said it now plans to invest Rs 500 crore inthree - four years to develop vaccines against bacterial, viral and protozoal infections.

It mow aims to sell around 2 million vaccines this year in the domestic market which has a potential of 4- 5 million doses per annum.