Micron Technologies, part of the Berwind Pharmaceutical Inc and a sister concern of Colorcon - the world leader in aqueous film coating technology, specialty chemicals, custom-edible colour systems and other specialised products and services, is likely to set up base in India by the end of next year, eyeing the burgeoning NCE research prospects in India.
The US $ 50 million Micron Technologies is a world leader in the field of particle reduction, engineering and analytical contract services for the pharma industry and currently operates out of its production locations based in US and U.K. The entry of Micron Technologies to India would be through the acquisition route or a green field project, likely to be in Goa where Colorcon has set up its production facilities.
"The facility will conform to Class 10,000 and we estimate investments to the tune of US $ 4-5 million. Since we have adequate land at Colorcon's Goa facility, investment in land acquisition could be reduced, if it is going to be a green field project. However, it is early to comment more on this as we are assessing the prospects in India" Dr. Kamlesh P Oza, managing director, Colorcon Asia, told Pharmabiz.
He said with the new product patent regime, more Indian companies have taken up drug discovery research seriously and in such a scenario, Micron's experience in the field would benefit the Indian drug makers.
Colorcon has set up an advanced tablet design centre in Goa at an investment of about US $ 200,000 and is receiving excellent response from the Indian clients. Two- three projects have been already completed. The Goan facility, opened a few months ago, is part of three Colorcon Global Tablet Design Centres (TDC), opened by Colorcon at West Point, Pennsylvania, Dartford, Kent, England, and at Goa, to facilitate the research and design of distinctive pharmaceutical tablet dosage forms. Utilising the specially designed Colorcon software, the uniquely shaped and coloured tablet can be designed and viewed dimensionally on screen, demonstrating how the final dosage form would look. Colorcon can also advise on unique trade dress options such as shade, gloss, pearlesence, and unique brand identification marks including printed logos. Further, this supports brand recognition and helps to combat the exposure to potential counterfeiting, elaborated Colorcon sources.
Dr.Kamlesh said, "Colorcon's Brand Enhancement System for Tablets (BEST), launched globally a few months back, have been well accepted in Asia as well. BEST is a unique concept for product development and brand management of an existing product. Colorcon is on the look out for acquiring new technologies as part of its constant endeavour to service the customers."