The Vadodara-based Astral Pharmaceutical Industries, manufacturers of sterile antibiotic powder injectable formulation and sterile active pharmaceutical ingredients, is looking to collaborate with companies in the developed markets such as European Union and Canada.

Astral Pharmaceutical Industries, which has recently entered into an alliance with the US-based Sagent Pharmaceuticals Inc to manufacture and supply injectable products to them, has already commenced discussions with a Canadian firm for similar kind of an alliance. According to sources close to the development, discussions are in an advanced stage and an agreement is expected by June 2008.

Speaking to Pharmabiz, Ketan Naik, chief executive of Astral Pharmaceutical Industries, said, "We are in discussions with some reputed international companies for collaborative alliance and it would be on the same lines of alliance with Sagent." However, he refused to reveal more on the same.

As per the agreement with Sagent, Astral Pharmaceuticals will develop, manufacture and supply injectable products for which Sagent will obtain US regulatory approval and market in the US. The agreement covers about 16 product codes belonging to penicillin group of sterile injectables and about 12 product codes for cephalosporin injectables. It is expected to facilitate Astral to quickly expand its manufacturing expertise in injectable anti-infectives to the US market.

It is learnt that the company is planning to expand its product range as per the agreement with Sagent Pharmaceuticals. It will launch five to ten new products, all of them sterile ant-biotic injectables, in the future. The technology upgradation of the existing facilities is company's continuous exercise and it is considering new investments in high-tech, specialised dosage forms, said Naik. The company has already chalked out plans to invest Rs 30 to 40 crore for a new facility and it is expected to commence operation by 2010.