Allergan India Ltd (AIL), a joint venture of Allergan Inc, USA, and the Mumbai-based Nicholas Piramal India Ltd (NPIL), has inaugurated a new plant to manufacture ophthalmic bulk drugs. The Board of Allergan India which met in Hyderabad has decided to invest Rs 20 crore in Global Drugs & Fine Chemicals, at Zaheerabad, about 50 km from Hyderabad, belonging to the Piramal Group to set up a dedicated manufacturing facility for AIL in the area of ophthalmic drugs and skin healthcare.
The plant to manufacture two bulk drugs, Levobunolol and Brimonidine, was inaugurated by David E.I.Pyott, President and Chief Executive Officer, Allergan Inc, Irvin, California, USA, on Friday. The plant would start production in the first quarter of the next fiscal.
A statement issued by the Bangalore-based AIL announced efforts to deepen the partnership through joint venture manufacturing and development efforts that would further consolidate the JV's leadership position in the ophthalmic segment of the Indian pharma market and maximise gains for both partners in the export market.
Pyott told Pharmabiz that the entire production at the new plant would be exported to Allergan plants worldwide.
Allergan Inc is a technology driven global health care company that develops and commercialises products for the eye care, neuromuscular, skin care and other speciality pharmaceutical segments. It has years of experience as a global leader in eye care. It markets its products in 100 countries. Allergan is positioning itself to take over the No 1 position in the global ophthalmic market by establishing the largest ophthalmic sales force in the world and by making significant investments in eye care research and development projects.
According to Pyott, the joint venture was an excellent example of building on the strengths of both the partners. The JV would utilise NPIL's manufacturing experience and skills to produce formulations for the global market and expand a portfolio of drugs for export, both formulations and bulk drugs, in the coming months. NPIL, in turn, would work with Allergan to utilise its R&D facilities to develop new ophthalmic products. The joint venture, he said, would have the advantage of having one of the best R&D facilities of Allergan, the low- cost quality production of NPIL and easy accessibility of the products into the regulated markets using Allergan's network.
Ajay Piramal, Chairman of NPIL, said Allergan India was the leader in ophthalmology in India with a market share of 17.5 per cent. The ophthalmic pharmaceutical market is worth Rs 250 crore. With a new patent regime that will emerge in India post-2005, NPIL's international collaboration will strengthen its pharma position in the domestic market, says Piramal.
Piramal said his company had invested Rs 6 crore in upgrading the manufacturing facilities and technologies at Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, where Allergan's products were manufactured. This, he says, will ensure drugs manufactured to international standards.
The company's total income (not including its JVs) for the financial year 2001-02 stood at Rs 983.89 crore with sales at Rs 946.49 crore. Operating profit was Rs 149.34 crore.
The company had a strong presence across multiple therapeutic categories including anti-infectives, CVS, CNS, gastro-intestinals, nutritionals, anti-diabetes, respiratory, NSAIDS, and biotech.
The company has filed its first patent for its own NCE (new chemical entity), an anti-cancer molecule NP102 in India and the US and will file a Paris Convention Treaty (PCT) patent application soon. The new module is a cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK 4) inhibitor. Accredited by globally reputed organisations, its Pitampur plant also does toll manufacturing for reputed MNCs like Novartis, Solvay, and IVAX, in addition to Allergan.
According to Ravi Menon, Managing Director, Allergan India, the JV commenced commercial operations in 1996 and is currently the market leader in eyecare. The company's charter is to serve eyecare in the country by providing the best in technology, products and services, at affordable cost. Allergan India recently launched two new products - Albalon for allergy and Lumigan - and more products are in the pipeline. Lumigan is the latest in medical management of Glaucoma. Other new products include Sensar Opitedge and Clariflex -IOLs (intra ocular lenses).