The Mumbai-based Calyx Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd, manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and intermediates, is all set to expand its R&D facility with an investment of Rs 40 crore. Once completed, the centre will have facilities cGMP kilo labs, analytical labs along with cGMP pilot plant facility.

It is part of the company's plan to expand contract research and manufacturing services (CRAMS), full time equivalent (FTE) research services and fee for service (FFS) business.

According to the company, first phase of the expansion, which has already commenced, is expected to be completed by March 2008. The facility, located in Mumbai has the approval of department of scientific and industrial research (DSIR). With the completion of proposed expansion, the facility would be capable of housing 500 scientists. At present the facility, spanning over 40,000 sq ft, houses 200 scientists.

Speaking to Pharmabiz, Coumara Radja, president, corporate strategy, said, "We will invest Rs 40 crore for the expansion of R&D facility. The facility is designed to house about 300 scientists, postgraduates, doctorates, post-doctorates and chemical engineers. We are also planning to increase the number of scientists from current 200 to 500."

The expanded facility will have six synthesis labs of 1000 sq ft each. It also houses three analytical labs, one bio-analytical lab and it supports the regulatory requirements. Recently the company has commissioned API intermediates production block at Tarapur and also built pilot plant at Tarapur. It has also ventured into FTE research and FFS and have equipped with technical manpower to deliver. The multipurpose plants have capabilities to produce from grams to tons in compliance with cGMP, WHO, EQDM, ISO 9001:2000 and COS norms.

The company, which is present in countries such as the US and Japan with sales offices and in China with sourcing office, has recently won the Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association (IDMA) Quality Excellence Award 2007. Calyx offers a range of APIs, chemical intermediates and building blocks to pharmaceuticals, biotech, chemical and drug discovery companies.