Hetero Drugs has obtained a formal approval to set up a pharma SEZ at Narsapuram near Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Hetero has acquired 400 acres for the proposed SEZ. The construction activity has begun and the phase I is likely to be completed by March 2007, Dr B Prathasaradhi Reddy, managing director of Hetero Drugs told Pharmabiz.

Hetero Drugs will utilise the entire land in the pharma SEZ for its own expansion. The units set up in the Zone will cater to export needs. The company is also setting up a formulations unit in a proposed formulations SEZ near Hyderabad where it will acquire about 120 acres and invest over Rs 100 crore. The company has already invested Rs 45 crore in setting up of a formulations unit in Baddi, he informed.

Hetero Drugs is marketing its products in over 80 countries in Asia, Middle East, Eastern Europe and Latin America. With its compliance to regulatory requirements, Hetero also markets its APIs in the US, Canada and Europe.

The US based Gilead Sciences has recently signed a non-exclusive license agreement to provide generic versions of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (sold by Gilead under the brand name Viread) to three generic manufacturers in India including Hetero Drugs. The agreement will allow Hetero Drugs to produce and distribute generic versions of tenofovir to 95 low-income countries around the world, including India.