Hyderabad - Biotech & Pharmaceutical Hub Updates

[akbar_196]

Biocon has acquired land in the special economic zone, Jawaharlal pharma city, near Visakhapatnam for its second manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh. The company has acquire approximately 50 acres of land to set up a manufacturing facility.

"It is incorrect to view our preference for Andhra Pradesh to establish a second manufacturing base due to lack of infrastructure in Karnataka. Given the current size of the company's operations, it was imperative to have a multi-location strategy to de-risk the business. While Bangalore is an ideal location for research and development for high value and low volume manufacturing, Andhra Pradesh is a place suitable for low value and high volume manufacturing," said Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, chairman and managing director, Biocon Ltd.

"In order to achieve high volumes, low value manufacturing needs, a lower investment and operational cost base that is globally competitive, is often the choice of companies. Other attractive factors include, uninterrupted power that allows a smaller standby power generation system, availability of water at low cost and a central effluent treatment facility. In the case of Biocon, it decided on the SEZ at Visakhapatnam because the facility would allow the company to release effluent after secondary treatment" said Shaw.

Biocon's operations in Bangalore has cent per cent standby power generation, a zero discharge effluent treatment facility and water supply at a rather high cost. Expanding the current manufacturing operations in Bangalore therefore will not allow the company to be globally competitive, she said.

Raichur-based Shilpa Medicare has slated an invested Rs 90 crore to set up an oncology formulations facility at the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Ltd's Pharma Formulations Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Jadcherla in Mahaboobnagar district.

The company has been allotted the land and has raised the funds through internal accruals and banks. The plant construction will begin in a few weeks. "We are looking to commission the advanced plant in the next 18 months", said Vishnukanth Bhutada, managing director, Shilpa Medicare Ltd .

"We have a total of 25 APIs in oncology and therefore we will do well in formulations. Not only that, we are one of the few dedicated oncology drug manufacturers in the country," he added.

http://www.pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails...d=61422&sid=21

[Prodigist]

BioAsia likely to see new investments worth Rs 3000 crores

Biotech projects worth Rs 3,000 crore are likely to be announced during the annual BioAsia conference, which begins here from February 21. These projects have been proposed in Hyderabad.

Sri Bio Integrated Discovery Centre, a stem cell banking and a research facility by Pacific Hospitals and Trans-Scell Biologies, and a large cancer research centre and hospital in collaboration with French government by Renaissance and Biogenesis and Renaissance Cancer Hospital & Research Centre would announce their plans next week, major industries minister J Geeta Reddy said here today.

Apart from new investments, Lonza Knowledge Centre by Swiss-based Lonza, which has already acquired land for its research and manufacturing facility in the Hyderabad Genome Valley and Lepakshi Knowledge Hub in Anantapur would be launched during the four-day international event, said the minister.

Addressing a press conference in connection with the BioAsia, the global business forum supported by the Andhra Pradesh government, the minister said delegates from 24 countries, including China and Malaysia, were taking part.

For the first time Pharmexcil, the Government of India’s pharmaceutical export promotion council, has also joined the meet by sponsoring the visit of over 30 foreign delegates from 18 counties to promote biopharma products from India.

Hyderabad accounts for about 40 per cent of the country's biopharma exports, according to PV Appaji, executive director of Pharmexcil. He said the pharmaceutical exports this year were expected to register around 17 per cent CAGR. The biopharma segment, which includes vaccine manufacturing, is also looking up.

B Sam Bob, principal secretary, state industries and commerce department, said about 200 companies were currently operating out of the three phases of Genome Valley project.

[Prodigist]

Tran-Scell sets up stem cell bank in Hyderabad

Tran-Scell Biologics, a partnership venture with Vitae Healthcare, has set up a Stem Cell Bank and a Research Centre in Hyderabad at an investment of around Rs 20 crore.

Though it may not be the first of its kind stem cell bank, the company will eventually offer stem cell therapy services too, said Subhadra Dravida, founder and CEO, Tran-Scell.

“The centre will be complete in three phases with the stem cell bank and research centre coming initially. We have earmarked Rs 15 crore towards research over the next one year. In the first year, we hope to receive at least 10,000 stem cell units,” she said.

“We plan to establish ourselves in Hyderabad and then move nationally,” she said.

“The technology is gaining momentum in the country as it claims to offer successful treatment in chronic diseases. Among the better known personalities in India, film actor Lisa Ray used stem cell therapy to cure her cancer,” said Krishna Swaroopa Reddy, neonatologist and paediatrician from Vitae Healthcare.

APPOLO to establish Stem Cell Center

The country’s largest private healthcare provider, Apollo Hospitals, recently roped in Ashok Khar — a senior scientist associated with research institution Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) — to establish a centre dedicated to stem cell research and application in Hyderabad.

The centre aims to be the hub of all applied stem cell research to happen within Apollo group of hospitals, and has prioritised four areas — cardiovascular diseases (CVD), spinal injuries, stroke and basic research in stem cell activity — for applied research

Khar’s team is busy standardising the protocols that need to be followed in each case and has applied for government funding for its first project, on CVD.

“The application of the technology happens in hospitals. My centre (Cell & Molecular Biology Research Centre) is the research unit,” Khar says, adding that the Apollo policy does not permit charging patients who undergo clinical trials. “All these therapies will be categorised as trials and will clear all necessary ethical approvals. We are also seeking government support, as such therapies may cost about Rs 12 lakh,” he says.

Khar’s entry into the corporate world is indicative of the manner in which cell therapy, an evolving area of medical treatment globally, is fast becoming the next frontier for India’s private heathcare players.

[ygvjs2000]

AP bulk drugs capital of India
source: http://expressbuzz.com/cities/hydera...99/250632.html
HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh is recognised not only as the pharmaceutical hub but also as the bulk drugs capital of India, according to J Geeta Reddy, minister for major industries, sugar, commerce & export promotion.
“We have more than 266 bulk drug manufacturing companies in the state of which more than 90 per cent are small and medium enterprises.
AP also registered pharma exports worth `20,000 crore and the industry is growing at about 20 per cent,” Geeta Reddy said. Delivering the inaugural address at the eighth edition of BioAsia 2011 here on Tuesday, she said, “Several pharma companies are investing in the state.” According to Geeta Reddy, at least three companies have already announced plans to set up facilities in Hyderabad with investment of `3,000 crore.
Dr Roger Williams, CEO, US Pharmacopeia, in his keynote address said it was in the process of preparing standards for the Indian pharmaceutical industry. “These standards can be used by companies for exports, to seek regulatory approvals and to market the products overseas,” Williams said adding that Indian biologics with its scientific and manufacturing expertise can lead the world.
Meanwhile, Geeta Reddy unveiled the plaque for four facilites, Alexandria Innovation centre, Lonza R&D and manufacturing facility, Lepakshi Knowledge Hub Pvt Ltd and Transcell Gene Pvt Ltd.
Geeta Reddy also presented the Genome Valley Excellence award to Dr K Anji Reddy, founder & chairman of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd and Beijing Institute of Genomics, China for their independent contribution towards life sciences.

[stormmaker]

UoH puts KIP project on the back burner

HYDERABAD: The controversial Knowledge and Innovation Park (KIP) proposed by the University of Hyderabad (UoH) and the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) remains a non-starter as the university management is likely to initiate a dialogue with those opposing the project only after a new vicechancellor is appointed.

“We have put it on hold and the matter would be taken up only when the new vice-chancellor takes over next month.

My term is almost over and I do not intend to start any dialogue with the local community.

But I clarified that the project cannot be shelved altogether as demanded by them,” Prof Syed E Hasnain, chairman, AP Biotech Advisory Council and vice-chancellor, UoH told Express on the sidelines of BioAsia 2011.

Biotech and pharmaceutical companies are not coming forward to set up operations in the KIP due to the ongoing controversy between the protestors and the university management over allotment of land for private companies on a commercial basis. “There have been no formal requests from companies for land allotment and there have been no land allotments since March, 2010,” Hasnain said.

Last year, UoH had put the project on hold following protests from the staff and students.

[stormmaker]

US Contract Research Firm QPS Takes Majority In Hyderabad's Bioserve

US-based contract research firm QPS Holdings has taken a majority stake in Hyderabad-based Bioserve Clinical Research Private Limited (Bioserve). Bioserve, a phase 1 CRO, will be known as QPS-Bioserve India after this transaction. Suneil Reddy, the current managing director, will continue in his position. The transaction value was not disclosed.

QPS is a CRO focussed on translational medicine, early stage clinical and late stage clinical research. Bioserve's infrastructure includes a 92-bed clinical unit for conducting phase I studies and a bioanalytical lab. Over the past six years, it has conducted over 500 studies, with numerous product approvals, and has been inspected by the USFDA, UKMHRA, WHO and Indian DCGI.

The company has been growing at a rate of over 50% per year, with a current team of over 100 employees, said a statement from QPS. Its clients include large Indian as well as MNC pharmaceutical firms. Bioserve’s promoters are the founders of Vijaya Diagnostic Centre, one of the largest chains in Hyderabad.

Veda Corporate Advisors was the exclusive advisor to Bioserve in the transaction.

“This new partnership further expands QPS’ global range of linearly integrated services,” said Ben Chien, PhD, Chairman, President and CEO of QPS.

This is the second acquisition by QPS in Asia in recent months. Earlier this month it acquired the Center of Toxicology and Preclinical Sciences (CTPS) from Taiwan’s Development Center for Biotechnology (DCB).

[ygvjs2000]

source: http://www.business-standard.com/ind...centre/427205/
Sri Biotech Laboratories India Limited, a Hyderabad-based multidisciplinary agri biotechnology company, is in the process of setting up an integrated discovery centre at Genome Valley on the outskirts of the city with an investment of Rs 30 crore.

“We will be commencing construction work on the centre soon and expect it to be completed in one-and-a-half years from now,” said Sri Biotech chairman and managing director KRK Reddy.

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The project will be funded through the $10-million private equity (PE) money that was infused into the company by Rabo Equity Advisors through its $100-million India Agri Business Fund in 2009. Sri Bio raised the PE fund to focus on seed research and development of new molecules for crop protection besides putting up infrastructure for the same.
Speaking to Business Standard on the sidelines of the Indian Seed Congress here recently, Reddy said the company was developing products since 2003 and had so far got four patents.

“The new discovery centre will focus on agriculture, health and environment. On the agriculture front, we are interested in developing transgenics … in the area of disease and pest-resistance crops, while the thrust will be on developing molecules, enzymes and proteins for the pharmaceutical sector, besides bioremediation studies like waste management,” Reddy said.

Stating that the objective behind proposing to set up the integrated centre was to exclusively dedicate it to intensify its discovery activities in the area of transgenics, Reddy said it would take four to five years for the company to get final results out of its discoveries, after which it would develop products based on them.

Sri Biotech reported revenues of Rs 85 crore in the last financial year. The company projects to cross revenues of Rs 100 crore this fiscal.

[Prodigist]

17 Companies graduate from IKP Knowledge Park, move to own facilities

Seventeen companies have graduated from the IKP Knowledge Park, a joint venture between the ICICI group and Andhra Pradesh government, in Genome Valley, near Hyderabad, and moved to their own facilities, it is learnt.

The IKP Knowledge Park, a purely Research and Development (R&D) park established in 1999, has so far promoted 45 R&D based companies, 17 of which have graduated and moved into their own facilities. Currently the park has 29 companies working in various areas of pharma, biotech and chemistry. A couple of companies are expected to graduate in the next one year and move into own facilities. Several new companies have come in place of the graduated companies. Ras Life Science is latest company to occupy space in the park.

Elaborating on the process of graduating of companies, Deepanwita Chattopadhyay, managing director and CEO, IKP Knowledge Park, told Pharmabiz, “The lab space in the park is being leased for a period of three years with an option to renew it for three more years and the max space the park can allot to a company is 15000 sq feet. When the companies grow bigger and need more than 15000 sq feet space they graduate from the park and move out to set up their own facility or become anchor companies by taking land on lease for a long term basis.”

Prominent companies graduated from the park are Anu’s Laboratories, Biomax, Nektar Therapeutics, Biogenex, and Krebs Biochemicals and Industries. Nektar has graduated in the last year and moved into its own facility. GVK Bio is the last one graduated from the park.

Some of the companies of the park have grown over the years and transformed themselves as anchor companies. Aptui-Laurus was the first company to convert themselves as an anchor company. Dupont and Laxai Aventis are some of the anchor companies. The Park, with a land area of 200 acres, has already eight anchor companies and has the capacity to accommodate four more companies as anchor companies.

Chattopadhyay also added that the park is purely for research and development and no manufacturing activities are allowed in the Park. She expressed the hope that several of the occupant companies will transform itself into global companies in the five years’ time. The park, which already hosted 45 companies, is aiming to host another 95 companies in the next five years.

In order to promote start-up companies, it has a seed fund scheme and is also arranging various funds from different agencies.

[rizwan3]

http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/12/stor...1261600200.htm

New plastic surgery technique on cards

Apollo Hospitals evaluating Celution System procedure

HYDERABAD: Apollo Hospitals is evaluating a new technique of plastic surgery that could change the traditional method, which involves collecting excess fat from one body part and fill up the ‘affected' body part.

The new method, called as Celution System, involves using a machine to pull stem cells and other regenerative cells out of normal fat and injecting them into the affected part of the body to repair the damaged cells.

“The stem cells and regenerative cells will grow naturally, repair the damaged area and heal the wounds. The new technique is under evaluation and we are hoping that very soon we will get the required approvals from the Central Government,” said Senior Consultant, Cosmetics and Plastic Surgeon, Apollo Hospital, Dr. Sudhakar Prasad.

The new technique will be useful for patients suffering from breast cancer, those needing facial surgeries and quick healing of wounds.

“If we simply transfer fat from one part of the body to the other then the transferred fat cells will disappear after some time. The patient will have to again go for a plastic surgery. In the new technique, however, we rejuvenate the cells in the effected region,” Dr. Sudhakar said.

The hospital doctors, who interacted with media persons on Friday, said that the Celution System, which is patented by United States-based Cytori Technologies, is being widely used in Europe and Asia for breast cancer surgery, facial rejuvenation and wrinkle filling.

As part of initial evaluation of the technology, hospital physicians have already performed cosmetic procedures on patients from Delhi and Hyderabad.

[ygvjs2000]

http://gulfnews.com/news/world/india...tudes-1.780902
Hyderabad City is scaling new altitudes
Hyderabad has made its niche in India as a pharmaceutical hub
You have probably heard a plethora of tales about Hyderabad's exquisite cuisine — including its world-renowned biryani and its naan bread rolls — its ancestral heritage, represented by a cluster of beautiful, ancient palaces and monuments, and, of course, the city's more contemporary exploits in the field of information technology, assuming the heady moniker of Cyberabad.
However, not many people know that Andhra Pradesh's capital city has become India's, and possibly Asia's, pharmaceutical hub. Hyderabad, India's fifth-largest city, has made huge strides in the field of pharmaceuticals. If its rival, Bengaluru, is fixated on information technology, which has driven the city's development, Hyderabad's forte lies not so much in information technology but in biotechnology.
While other Indian cities are crumbling under the pressure of urban migrations and exploding populations, Hyderabad has maintained itself well over the decades since independence.
Indeed, Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, who scripted modern India's constitution with his brilliant legal mind and political acumen, had even tried in 1955 to make Hyderabad India's "second capital" because of its impressive amenities.
With adequate space and other incentives available, the cluster of pharmaceutical and biotech companies in and around Hyderabad has steadily grown — and continues to grow — over the years. Top companies such as USP, Novartis, Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Agilent, Biological E Limited, Shantha Biotechnics, Bharath Biotech, Matrix Laboratories and Krebs Biochemical have operations here. Other companies are also expected to create extensive infrastructure in biotechnology.
Hyderabad's development as a pharmaceutical hub, strengthened by a large and modern airport, has a strong pull for foreign airlines as demand for capacity to transport pharmaceutical products grows.
It is not surprising, therefore, that Germany's Lufthansa Cargo, the world's leading cargo carrier, has established a strong presence in Hyderabad.
Indeed, Lufthansa Cargo and the GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL), which operates the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGLA) in Hyderabad, recently inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at jointly developing the airport into a major cargo hub of Asia for the transport of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals.
GHIAL is a joint-venture company involving four partners — Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd (11 per cent stake), the GMR Group (63 per cent), the government of India (13 per cent) and the state government of Andhra Pradesh (13 per cent).
The MoU serves as a framework for both sides to set up a modern infrastructure at the RGIA with the intention of providing reliable, temperature-controlled transport solutions. Under its terms, the cargo carrier will provide capacity for the transport of temperature-sensitive cargo. For this, Lufthansa Cargo will station its own fleet of special cooling containers, called "Opticoolers", in Hyderabad. Lufthansa Cargo claimed that the "Opticoolers", unveiled for the first time in India, are the most modern cold-chain containers in the industry.
Describing India as the "world's largest market for generics", Martin Schlingensiepen, Lufthansa Cargo's vice-president for product management, told Weekend Review that demand for temperature-controlled transport will continue to grow in India in the coming years, with Hyderabad playing a dominant role in this traffic. Lufthansa Cargo is the only international cargo carrier operating two flights a week to Hyderabad.
He said that the transport of temperature-sensitive cargo made exacting demands on airlines and airports. "While outside temperatures at airports may range from minus 30°C up to 40°C, the temperature inside the container may only fluctuate minimally so as not to damage the sensitive freight. This calls for a modern infrastructure at airports, high-performance cooling containers and reliable processes," he explained.
Paul Smith, chief executive officer of Hyderabad Menzes Air Cargo Pvt Ltd (HMAC) — a joint venture created by the United Kingdom-based Menzies group and the GMR group to manage the cargo terminal at the airport — said the Hyderabad airport had generated an "impressive business volume".
"The pharmaceutical industry has not been affected by the economic downturn. After all, people tend to become sick and there will always be demand for pharmaceuticals," he said.
A pharma-zone, the first of its kind in India, has already been established at the airport. At present, the airport has a cargo capacity of 100,000 tonnes. But the actual cargo volume shipped from Hyderabad airport is about 75,000 tonnes. The major part of the export-cargo volume — almost 60 per cent — consists of shipments of pharmaceutical products. The airport has become a key outlet for India's pharmaceutical exports.
According to Smith, the United States is the most important market for India's pharmaceutical exports. Europe is the second-largest, with Brussels serving as a transit point for further shipment and distribution, followed by Africa and Russia.
Over the years, India has emerged as one of the leading suppliers of generic drugs, particularly for HIV treatment; these drugs, according to Smith, are shipped to Africa by chartered flights. "Without these generic drugs, HIV-affected people in many countries would suffer. Thus, the Hyderabad airport's role is unique," Smith said.
Because of growing traffic, Smith said there were plans for expansion of the terminal in 2011. Domestic cargo transporting companies such as Blue Dart and Deccan 360 will also increase their presence in Hyderabad. With India's economy posting impressive growth rates, Smith envisaged greater demand for capacity. "We do not have the freighter or belly capacity on passenger aircraft to ship out the products. It would be great to also have Jade Cargo of China [Lufthansa Cargo has a stake in the cargo carrier] in Hyderabad," he said.
Smith expects airports in Mumbai or Chennai to follow Hyderabad's example. Mumbai already has a temperature-controlled facility for perishables.
Hyderabad is also creating a free-trade zone. Vikram Jaisinghani, GHAIL's deputy CEO, confirmed that the free-trade zone would be established on a 28-hectare plot of land that would offer duty and demurrage-free facilities to shippers.

Manik Mehta is a commentator on Asian affairs.

[rizwan3]

http://www.mydigitalfc.com/news/bioc...ufacturing-934

Biocon to spend Rs 200 cr on R&D, manufacturing

Healthcare products manufacturer Biocon plans to spend $100 million in its efforts to develop insulin drugs over the next 3-4 years, said its chairperson and managing director Kiran Mazumdar Shaw.

Further, the company is also looking at investing around Rs 200 crore towards stepping up its manufacturing and research capabilities in the domestic market this fiscal, she said.

Of this, the company plans a capital expenditure of around Rs 100 crore towards the Research & Development centre in Bangalore, which would be operational in the next six months, said Shaw.

“The R&D centre would house 500-600 scientists. Apart from the capex, we would also be investing in drug development. For instance, we are hopeful to put in $100 million in the next 3-4 years towards research on insulin products,” she told reporters in Hyderabad on the sidelines of an international conference on patient safety.

The company has already invested Rs 50 crore in its Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients facility in Hyderabad. “We would further invest another Rs 50 crore in a couple of years,” she said.

The Bangalore-based company, which has a major thrust on diabetes drug development, feels that the increase in sales of human insulin due to the 18 per cent hike in the price allowed by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), will be reflected in its balance sheets in the first quarter of current financial year. “Increase in insulin prices is a positive sign. It will have an impact on our balance sheet from this quarter (April-June),” she said, without giving details.

[ygvjs2000]

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfee...cm/658712.html
Make quality healthcare affordable to people, says AP CM
PTI | 09:04 PM,Apr 22,2011
Hyderabad, Apr 22 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today underscored the need to make quality healthcare affordable to the people. He said technological advancements should aid in the poor and needy people getting modern medicare facilities. Reddy recalled the statement of US President Barack Obama a few days ago about Americans going to India for medical treatment. It is good that people from developed countries like the USA and UK are coming to India for affordable treatment, he said, speaking at a conference on `Transforming Healthcare with Information Technology (IT)' hosted by Apollo Group. The Chief Minister said Hyderabad has emerged as the health and medical capital of the country as the state capital has the maximum number of super multi-speciality hospitals. Hyderabad is also the pharma capital of the country as it is home to the highest number of pharmaceutical companies and bulk drug manufactures, Reddy said. "It is a well-known fact that the Governments across the globe are grappling with a range of healthcare challenges like affordability, quality of care, patient safety, rural- urban and rural-tribal divide, demand-supply gap of skilled workforce, among others. Our Government is no exception." With the advent of IT and IT-enabled services, healthcare is undergoing tremendous transformation. IT influence is growing by the day and there is amazing impact of tele-medicines and tele-surgery, Reddy said.

[rockystone]

Phenomenex opens new office in India


Phenomenex Inc. announced that it has expanded its international subsidiary network to serve India directly from a new office in Hyderabad. The new entity will serve research communities throughout India with sales and service teams that sell all Phenomenex products directly and provide timely technical support, training, and seminars.

"Phenomenex India will provide our growing customer base with the most innovative products along with fast deliveries, expert technical support, and outstanding service," commented Fasha Mahjoor, president of Phenomenex. "We are proud to continue the expansion of our international operations, which serve customers worldwide."

Phenomenex serves research customers in a wide range of industries including drug discovery and development, chemical processing, biofuels analysis, food and water safety, forensics, and toxicology. All Phenomenex products, including the Luna, Gemini, Synergi, Kinetex, Strata-X, BioSep, Lux, and Zebron brands, will be supplied exclusively from the Indian office to customers in India.

[ygvjs2000]

http://www.pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails...id=62640&sid=2
Phenomenex opens new office in Hyderabad

Our Bureau, Mumbai
Saturday, April 30, 2011, 14:15 Hrs [IST]
Phenomenex Inc., a global leader in the research and manufacture of advanced technologies for the separation sciences, has expanded its international subsidiary network to serve India directly from a new office in Hyderabad. The new entity, which opened this month at Laxmi Cyber City, Kondapur, Hyderabad, will serve research communities throughout India with sales and service teams that sell all Phenomenex products directly and provide timely technical support, training and seminars.

“Phenomenex India will provide our growing customer base with the most innovative products along with fast deliveries, expert technical support and outstanding service,” commented Fasha Mahjoor, president of Phenomenex. “We are proud to continue the expansion of our international operations, which serve customers worldwide.”

Phenomenex serves research customers in a wide range of industries including drug discovery and development, chemical processing, biofuels analysis, food and water safety, forensics and toxicology. All Phenomenex products, including the leading Luna, Gemini, Synergi, Kinetex, Strata-X, BioSep, Lux and Zebron brands, will be supplied exclusively from the Indian office to customers in India, a company press release said.

Phenomenex is a leading provider of advanced technology solutions for separation science techniques in the areas of sample preparation, high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC). Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Torrance, California, USA, Phenomenex helps scientists around the world analyze and purify a variety of important chemicals, biochemical raw materials, intermediates, and finished products.

[rockystone]

Grace Davison opens new India center
COLUMBIA, Md. -- Grace Davison Discovery Sciences, a product line of W. R. Grace & Co., has opened a new technical service center in Southern India for customers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

The new facility is located in Genome Valley (close to Hyderabad), a growing biopharmaceutical area with more than 100 biotechnology companies and major generic pharmaceutical manufacturers.

The center was opened to support Grace’s customers in the areas of laboratory separations, bulk purification, excipients and pharmaceutical intermediates. Grace’s expertise in these areas ultimately assists pharmaceutical companies to bring potentially life saving medications to market sooner.

“To better meet our customer demand, we are geographically expanding where it will benefit our growing client base the most,” said Joanne Green, vice president and general manager of Grace Davison Discovery Sciences. “We continuously strive to improve our technologies, products and services. The new facility is part of our strategy to build on our footprint in the region and to position for further expansion in the future.”

The center will serve as a resource for Indian customers, as well as being an Asia Pacific support hub for the region, the company said. In addition, it will be a center for product development and applications support for Grace Davison Discovery Sciences. Other services provided will include customer training, validation and testing for a variety of products and product demonstrations. The new center complements existing application laboratories in the United States, Europe and China.

Grace opened its first India office in Bangalore in the mid-1990s. Over the years, the company has significantly expanded its presence on the subcontinent, the company said. Today, Grace has sales, technical service and manufacturing operations across the country -- from New Delhi to Bangalore and from Mumbai to Chennai -- servicing customers in the discovery sciences, packaging, refining and construction industries.

Grace is a supplier of catalysts and other products to petroleum refiners; catalysts for the manufacture of plastics; silica-based engineered and specialty materials for a wide range of industrial applications; sealants and coatings for food and beverage packaging, specialty chemicals and additives and building materials for commercial and residential construction. Founded in 1854, Grace has operations in over 40 countries.

[rizwan3]

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/hydera...sm/271253.html

Hyderabad, a hub for medical tourism

Express Features

Last Updated : 04 May 2011 09:28:37 AM IST

The Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FAPCCI), in association with Tourism Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, are currently hosting a two-day seminar and exhibition on ‘Hyderabad as an International Hub for Medical Tourism - A Road Map’.

The event involved various stalls and in-depth discussions on the medical tourism scenario in the city. The guest of honour was Vatti Vasant Kumar, minister for tourism and culture, Government of Andhra Pradesh.

Post the inaugural session began the seminar, in which various issues were addressed — global perspective of medical tourism, role of government in medical tourism, potential of Hyderabad in medical tourism, among others.

“India has a lot of potential for medical tourism because our country has some of the best medical facilities at reasonable and affordable costs,” said Dr Prem Jagyasi, founder of Global Healthcare Network. While India on the whole has immense potential for medical tourism, discussions mainly focused on Hyderabad as a great market for the same. “There are many reasons for Hyderabad having the best potential for medical tourism,” said Kali Prasad from Ernest & Young Company, continuing, “This city has a strong medical infrastructure, there is immense support from the government, the infrastructure like airports, flyovers are very well structured here. Also, some of the medical centres in Hyderabad, which are a strong mix of single and multi-speciality hospitals, are well known in the world.”

Post the presentations, followed open house sessions for everyone to express their opinions. The first day of this seminar ended on a satisfactory note, only for everyone to look forward to the second day.

[hyd]

Translation:
AP Takes it in the behind, Just throw them few bones/jobs and they are willing to take effluent, pollution and any other crap....
Low value / High manufacturing.

Govt should aspire to make AP R&D hub not a sweat shop for all kinds of industry (ship breaking) why not ship building, well nothing to have in commission.
Centre has asked for land long back for a major port and ship building, AP doesn't want it.
What a bunch of crooks in this govt

Originally Posted by akbar_196

Biocon has acquired land in the special economic zone, Jawaharlal pharma city, near Visakhapatnam for its second manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh. The company has acquire approximately 50 acres of land to set up a manufacturing facility.

"It is incorrect to view our preference for Andhra Pradesh to establish a second manufacturing base due to lack of infrastructure in Karnataka. Given the current size of the company's operations, it was imperative to have a multi-location strategy to de-risk the business. While Bangalore is an ideal location for research and development for high value and low volume manufacturing, Andhra Pradesh is a place suitable for low value and high volume manufacturing," said Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, chairman and managing director, Biocon Ltd.

"In order to achieve high volumes, low value manufacturing needs, a lower investment and operational cost base that is globally competitive, is often the choice of companies. Other attractive factors include, uninterrupted power that allows a smaller standby power generation system, availability of water at low cost and a central effluent treatment facility. In the case of Biocon, it decided on the SEZ at Visakhapatnam because the facility would allow the company to release effluent after secondary treatment" said Shaw.

Biocon's operations in Bangalore has cent per cent standby power generation, a zero discharge effluent treatment facility and water supply at a rather high cost. Expanding the current manufacturing operations in Bangalore therefore will not allow the company to be globally competitive, she said.

Raichur-based Shilpa Medicare has slated an invested Rs 90 crore to set up an oncology formulations facility at the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Ltd's Pharma Formulations Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Jadcherla in Mahaboobnagar district.

The company has been allotted the land and has raised the funds through internal accruals and banks. The plant construction will begin in a few weeks. "We are looking to commission the advanced plant in the next 18 months", said Vishnukanth Bhutada, managing director, Shilpa Medicare Ltd .

"We have a total of 25 APIs in oncology and therefore we will do well in formulations. Not only that, we are one of the few dedicated oncology drug manufacturers in the country," he added.

http://www.pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails...d=61422&sid=21

[rizwan3]

http://articles.economictimes.indiat...ma-gross-sales

Aurobindo turns billion dollar pharmaceutical company
May 10, 2011, 10.48am IST


HYDERABAD: Hyderabad-based Aurobindo Pharma has joined the billion-dollar club of pharma fraternity as the company's consolidated revenues registered a growth of 22.5% at Rs 4381.5 crore in the financial year ended March 31, 2011 as against Rs 3575.4 crore last year.

The company s net however, did not witness an upward momentum due to a dip in forex gains. Its net was at Rs 563.45 crore compared to Rs 563.4 crore in the previous year. "Though the sales have gone up, the company s margins have not expanded considerably. That is one of the reasons for net profit being flayed on a yearly basis.

Besides, this fiscal, the company's forex gain was Rs 37 crore as against Rs 110 crore last year. We expect margins to improve in FY13 when its formulations business is expeted contribute about 70% of its gross sales, said Sarabjit Kaur Nangra, V-P (research), Angel Broking. The spurt in sales is led by growth in formulations business especially anti-retrovirals (ARVs).


Its formulations business clocked 30.8% growth at Rs 2423.1 crore compared to last financial year while ARV sales went up by 40% to Rs 693.6 crore. Currently, formulations sales constitute 57.3% of the company s gross sales. The company s sales in the US went up by 30.4% to Rs 1189.7 crore. In fact, the increased allocation to PEPFAR by the US augurs well for Aurobindo. US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the largest effort by any nation to combat a single disease. Aurobindo is one of the largest participants in PEPFAR. "The results are in line with our expectations.

Majority of the company's ARV revenues come from PEPFAR. The net remains flat because the company s staff cost has gone up by 30% due to its SEZ becoming operational in AP. Besides, material cost also has gone up," said Rahul Sharma, Analyst, Karvy Stock Broking.

The Company has filed and received approvals for a large number of products in various key therapeutic segments across several countries. As on March 31, 2011, the company filed 209 abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) in the US, of which 134 have been approved, including 32 tentative approvals . During FY 2011, the company filed 1270 formulations dossiers in other key regulated markets including multiple registrations in European Union.

[rizwan3]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ow/8366640.cms

16 May, 2011, 04.15PM IST,PTI
MSN Laboratories to foray into pain management market with launch of painkiller 'Tapentadol'


HYDERABAD: MSN Laboratories Limited, a city- based research oriented pharma company, today said it will foray into the pain management market with the launch of 'Tapentadol' a pain killer under brand name Tapal in Indian market, a top company executive said today.

According to MSN Reddy, chairman MSN Labs , the drug was developed by the company for the first time in India and the results of phase-III trials of the drug have shown that it would work better than the current acute pain relieving drugs.

"We expect to clock revenues of up to Rs 100 crore in the next 3-4 years from Tapal," Reddy told media persons here.

He said the market for pain killers in the country is around Rs 3,500 crore.

Reddy said currently 10 to 12 drugs are under research and development and the company will centralise R&D activities in a new facility being developed near Hyderabad with an investment of Rs 100 crore.

MSN currently has five manufacturing units, one facility for finished dosage and a dedicated R&D centre. The company so far has filed over 100 Indian and over 40 international patents.

The company has also filed nearly 80 drug master files for the USA, Canada and European markets, Reddy said.

[rags123]

Shares of Suven Life Sciences gained around 5% after the company secured four overseas product patents . The Hyderabad-based pharmaceuticals company bagged one patent each from Europe, New Zealand, Australia and Korea for the treatment of disorders associated with neurodegenerative diseases.

According to analysts, Suven will be able to sell these compounds to manufacture medicines for the treatment of disorders like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson and Schizophrenia. Suven Life Sciences currently has eight foreign patents for its various drug discoveries. Shares of Suven Life Sciences closed at .`21 on the BSE on Thursday.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ow/8593199.cms