Several companies in Maharashtra are expanding business outreach through huge investment in R&D, new manufacturing facilities and marketing. This continuous expansion in the business units is creating worldwide demand for the pharmaceutical companies in Maharashtra.
The Mumbai-based leading biotechnology company Advanced Enzyme Technologies Ltd (AETL) is investing around Rs 150 crore in R&D and product development. The company is introducing six new products in the domestic as well as in the international market in the next fiscal year.
Ankur Drugs and Pharma Ltd, a forerunner in the business of contract manufacturing, is going ahead with major expansion programme to cater to the needs of domestic as well as international clients. The company invested Rs 135 crore for its new manufacturing facility at Baddi (HP).
The country's second largest pharmaceutical company Cipla is setting up special economic zone (SEZ) at Bhootkhamb near Keri in Goa with the initial investment of about Rs 650 crore. The company is to acquire 80 acres for setting up its largest pharmaceutical formulation plant. Amar Lulla, joint managing director, Cipla said "We are in negotiations with the SEZ developers to buy the required land for the proposed formulation manufacturing facility and the new plant is expected to come up within the next one year."
The Mumbai-based Rs 460-crore plus pharma company, Elder Pharmaceutical is expanding its research and development facility at Navi Mumbai, with the investment of around Rs 10 crore. The new expansion will be completed within six months. Currently, the company is working on a new project on NDDS and it is planning to tie up with a leading MNC.
Ess Dee Aluminium Ltd, the Mumbai-based leading pharmaceutical packaging company, has expanded its packaging business through investments in its wholly owned subsidiary Flex Art Foil Pvt Ltd (FAFPL) at Baddi in Himachal Pradesh. FAFPL had an installed capacity of 600 tpa, which has increased up to 2000 tpa, Sudip Dutta, chairman and managing director of Ess Dee told Pharmabiz.
Hikal Pharmaceutical is establishing its new research centre at Pune shortly. The company is investing Rs 30 crore for building up the research centre. The center is likely to be operational soon.
Indoco Remedies, the Mumbai-based pharma company, has worked out investment plans in R&D activities and also for its plant at Baddi in Himachal Pradesh. The company has consolidated its R&D activities by shifting its entire activities to Navi Mumbai.
J B Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (JBCPL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Gujarat, during the vibrant Gujarat summit held in Ahmedabad, for the development and construction of a pharmaceutical sector specific Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Panoli, Gujarat.
Maneesh Pharmaceuticals from Mumbai is expanding its product portfolio by adding around 15-18 new products with an estimated investment of around Rs 50 crore. All these new products will be launched in the next financial year. Presently, all these products are at different trial stages.
The Rs 325-crore plus Plethico Pharmaceutical Ltd is shifting its entire CRAMs and OTC business units to Sikkim with a total investment of Rs 20 crore. The new facility, located in this tax-free state, will be operational by the year 2009. The company is undertaking the construction work from early 2008. Sharon Bio Medicine has recently commissioned its oral solid dosage facility and is setting up an injectable plant at the cost of Rs.17crore in its existing facility at Dehradun, Uttaranchal. Sharon is also investing Rs 77 crore in 2 new API plants.
USV Ltd has planned to set up a new injectable plant at Daman with a total investment of Rs 45 crore. The plant is expected to be commissioned by early March 2008.