The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Pharma firms for collaborations

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Tuesday, Feb 03, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Pharma firms for collaborations

Special Correspondent

‘50 p.c. of revenues in pharma industry will be accrued from in-licensed products’
European Federation of Biotechnology offers to help in combating tuberculosis

HYDERABAD: The increasing spending on licensing procedures and shortage of capital are driving pharma companies across the globe to seek collaborations in research and licensing in the wake of economic slowdown.

Experts expressed this view at a session on ‘Business Drivers leading to collaborations & licensing’ at the ongoing Bio-Asia-2009 here on Monday.

Reid J. Leonard, executive director, external research and licensing, Merck & Co, USA, said that the company had been successful in building alliances and had entered into 55 partnerships in 2007. More than 65 per cent of revenues were attributable to alliance products and patents in that year, he added.

Ravi Sodha, senior director (business development), Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Switzerland, predicted that 50 per cent of revenues in pharma industry would be accrued from in-licensed products.

Emphasising the importance of partnerships, Prof. Brian F. Clark, president, European Federation of Biotechnology offered to help India, Russia and China in combating tuberculosis.

Meanwhile, Switzerland-based Lonza, a leading supplier to pharmaceutical, healthcare and life science industries, is looking at different locations in India to initially set up its R&D centre and later a manufacturing unit with an investment $20 to $50 million, its CEO Stefan Borgas told reporters here on Monday.

He said that Hyderabad was one of the locations being considered as the company was looking at the availability of skilled biologists and chemists. Lonza was also holding talks with some Indian companies for entering into partnership.

At another press meet, city-based Greenport Corporation, said that it was looking for Indian partners to establish two integrated Agro Food Parks near Bangalore and Chennai, each with an investment of Rs.2,000 crore. The parks proposed to be set up in collaboration with Alterra, Wageningen, UR of Netherlands, would provide infrastructure for agri and livestock units in not less than 5,000 acres.

Avesthagen Ltd announced the commencement of its DHA (decosahexaenoic acid) and functional food facility at Shapoorji Pallonji Bioteck Park, (Phase-1, Shameerpet). DHA is required in high levels in the brain and retina to provide for optimal neuronal functioning ( learning ability, mental development) and visual acuity in young and old alike, an Avesthagen press release said.

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