The Bangalore-based biotechnology major Biocon Limited as part of its immediate capacity expansion programme for statins and immunosuppressants, is planning multiple facilities at its new manufacturing complex at Bommasandra near Bangalore. The new facilities that would enhance the company's fermentation, extraction and synthetic conversion capacities for both statins and immunosupprassants, is expected to be commissioned by the first quarter of 2005.

Speaking to Pharmabiz in Mumbai, Kiran Majumdar Shaw, chairman and managing director, Biocon Limited, said that in order to meet the growing demand for the statins the company would develop new submerged fermentation and synthesis facilities. These facilities designed to house four 100 kl fermenters and synthetic conversion and extraction capacities. Shaw was in Mumbai to formally announce the IPO of Biocon, which is opening on March 11, 2003.

Shaw added that the new facilities for statins are being built with a significantly higher level of automation compared to their existing facilities as the company intend to seek US FDA approval for the manufacture of lovastatin, simvastatin and pravastatin at this facility. The company would spend around Rs 407 crore for the statins facility over a period of three years.

Along with the statins' new facility the company is also augmenting the fermentation facilities for immunosuppressants, with which an additional capacity of 30 kl to be built up. The new immunosupprassants project that is already commenced will be ready for production by October 2004. The company will be spending around Rs 16 crore to develop this facility.