With more than 200 of the country's total 600-odd active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) manufacturing units located in and around the city of Hyderabad, the southern state of Andhra Pradesh invariably forms an important centre of activity for Indian pharmaceutical industry.
Andhra Pradesh accounts for more than one-third of India's total bulk drug production. A major share of the bulk drugs produced by AP-based companies finding way to foreign markets, the export turnover from the segment is also to be much high. It has emerged as a key player not only in the export of bulk drugs but in finished formulations, as well.
Out of nearly 500 basic drugs, which are being produced or can be produced in this country, majority being manufactured in Andhra Pradesh. This has helped India achieve a turnaround from importer of bulk drugs to exporter of bulk drugs during the last two decades.
Venkat Jasti, president, Bulk Drug Manufacturers' Association (BDMA) and the state unit of Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA), predicted that there will be a 500-fold increase in the business for the state's drug industry within next 10 years, if the government is keen enough to undertake pro-active measures.
According to the state government's Vision 2020, a large part of India's pharmaceutical activity, including manufacturing of bulk drugs, will be based in Andhra Pradesh by that year. The objective is to make the state preferred destination for investment in pharmaceuticals for Indian and multinational companies.
Currently estimated at little over a billion, the state envisions a four-fold increase in the production sector in forthcoming years. It has set a target of $ 8 billion by 2010 and between $10-15 billion by 2020. Good infrastructure facilities, availability of trained manpower coupled with presence of some of the leading research and development centres like CCMB, IICT, CDFD, NIN etc make AP a fertile land for the industry to take deep roots and flourish.
Larger manufacturing units in Hyderabad have started introdu-cing Quality Assurance (QA) measures and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Good Labo-ratory Practices (GLP) as a preparation for the post-2005 regime.
The state government is helping the industry by providing the necessary infrastructure for the promotion of the bulk drug industry. The proposed Pharma City near Visakhapatnam with world-class infrastructure facilities is an effort in that direction.
The arrival of pharmaceutical exports promotion body Pharmexcil with head-quarters based at Hyderabad, will lend an additional impetus to the emer-ging bulk drug capital of the country and can also significantly contribute further growth of the pharmaceutical industry, analysts point out.