The Hyderabad based Aurobindo Pharma Limited (APL) has earmarked Rs 30 crore as initial investment for setting up two new facilities for manufacturing different finished dosage formulations.

The company has also launched a speciality division under the name "Adler & Kaplan" covering therapeutic groups like diabetics, neuropsychiatry and cardiology.

Stating this, P V Ramaprasad Reddy, managing director, APL pointed out that it is all part of the company's plans to cater the regulated markets with new drug delivery systems. He said that APL is continuing its efforts to become a strong knowledge-based and technology-oriented R&D driven health care company.

Reddy said that that its newly inaugurated R&D centre at Bachupally, near Hyderabad will be the key navigator for the company's imposing growth in the future.

APL has diversified its product portfolio by introducing cephalosporins (oral & sterile), anti-virals, macrolides, anti-ulcerants, quinolones, semi-synthetic pencillins and formulations for domestic and export markets.

The netprofits of APL had shown a 48.78 % growth during the year 1999-2000. Its exports during the corresponding year went up to Rs 367.37 crore from Rs 213.46 crore last year. Exports accounted for 50% of the total revenue of APL, which has its presence in about 70 countries all over the world.

Reddy hopes that with the introduction of wide range of value-added new drugs and intermediates, through enhanced marketshare and broadened global customer base, the company will be able to perform better in the coming days.