The Hindu : Business : Unichem to step up R&D activity

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 17, 2005

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Business

Unichem to step up R&D activity

Special Correspondent

To file ANDA in U.S.; plans product launches in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Oman

BANGALORE: Unichem Laboratories will step up research and development activities being carried out from its two R& D centres located at Bangalore and Mumbai, according to the Chairman and Managing Director, Prakash Mody.

Addressing the 42nd annual general meeting (AGM) of its shareholders, Mr. Mody said Unichem had invested in biotechnology in its R&D facility at the Indian Institute of Science premises in Bangalore. It has developed certain novel process technologies for recombinant proteins for which patents have also been filed by Unichem.

"We are in the process of scaling up these technologies and in discussion with potential partners to carry out further clinical studies and to commercially launch these products," he added.

Unichem will also increase its R&D spending to meet the requirements of both national and international markets. "We are currently spending around 3.63 per cent of our total turnover in R&D, which is expected to increase to five-six per cent by 2007," he said.

Unichem has chalked out a multi-pronged strategy for the current fiscal which includes filing of first Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) in the U.S., product launches in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Oman, setting up of new focused and specialised marketing divisions in Mumbai, upgradation of technologies and capacity enhancement and strengthening of the product portfolio in the domestic market through organic and inorganic route, he added.

"Unichem expects to file our first ANDA during third quarter followed by three more ANDA's in this fiscal," he added.

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