The Hyderabad-based Jupiter Bioscience Ltd, one of the leading players in the peptide segment, is all set to commission its new green-field facility in the United States by July of this year, it is learnt.

The company, which has recently acquired the Switzerland manufacturing facility of Merck Life Sciences for an undisclosed amount, has invested Rs 25 crore in the facility located in Maryland. The facility, dedicated for peptide active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), will cater to the regulated markets. As per the company, the facility is as per its plan to consolidate presence in the global, especially regulated markets. It is waiting for the US FDA approval for the facility and is expected to get the approval shortly.

Speaking to Pharmabiz, Amitabh Kumar, president, new projects, Jupiter Bioscience Ltd, said, "The US facility along with the Switzerland will cater to the requirements of regulated markets. Raw material for peptide APIs will be processed in India and synthesized in the US and Swiss facilities. The US facility will employ 15 highly skilled professionals and it doesn't require a huge manpower for synthesizing".

It is learnt that company's immediate plan is to start supply of generic peptide APIs from the Switzerland facility and is hoping to commence by this year itself. The company is also considering to manufacturing of peptide based formulations and may manufacture themselves or outsource to others. Jupiter has six products in the pipeline stage and will develop one by one.

It is also learnt the Hyderabad-based company is considering collaborations with companies, which are engaged in the development of peptide based drugs. Currently, it is in discussions with a US firm, which have three peptide drugs, for such collaborations. The company said that it would be a win-win situation for both companies by sharing the profits or by supplying the raw materials required by the latter. Jupiter Biosciences is also in the process of evaluating some companies for acquisition. However, sources said, nothing has finalized on that front.

The company is currently working on a peptide-based diagnostic kit for hepatitis B and is hoping to launch it another few months.