Mumbai: Indoco Remedies sets up R

Mumbai, Jun 2: Vashi-Based Indoco Remedies has set up a new R&D centre at Navi Mumbai near here at a cost of Rs 225 million in order to fully integrate into Contract Research and Manufacturing Service (CRAMS) space.

The research activities at the facility include synthesis of APIs, process improvement and development of non-infringing processes for APIs and intermediates, formulations development, analytical studies and regulatory affairs.

Company director (business development) Aditi Kare Panandikar told reporters here last evening, ''Indoco aims to transform itself into a completely integrated player in CRAMS space.'' India has emerged as a secure territory for research and manufacturing of patented products and the company would leverage this opportunity. The facility would be aimed to work for firms from the European countries and US market.'' ''Unique feature of the R&D centre is the Kilolab, which is versatile to perform a wide variety of reactions and complete multistage intermediate and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient(API) processes for preclinical phase to Phase III clinical studies, and will in turn amplify Indoco's contract development and manufacturing services to the rest of the world,'' she said.

Indoco views its R&D capabilities as a vital component of its business strategy that will provide the company long-term competitive advantage. The company intends to take up New Drug Delivery System (NDDS) research and expects to commercialize the first NDDS product in 2008. It is in the process of setting up a separate R&D team for the same.

UNI