Karanataka had investments to the tune of Rs 329.50 crore in the pharma sector during last year. In all, there are 16 projects coming up and they are in various phases of completion. Some of them are yet to take off. Almost all of them are expected to be completed between 2008 end and 2010.

A major project that has come up among these 16 is the formulation facility by Micro Labs at an investment of Rs 100 crore. It is expected to be completed by April 2010.

Cipla is investing in a bulk drugs plant at an investment of Rs 85.50 crore. The Himalaya Drug Company is investing Rs 40 crore to set up a tablet facility which can produce one lakh a day. Bal Pharma is also planning a bulk drug facility at an investment of Rs 35 crore.

Advinus Therapeutics, part of the Tata Group is investing Rs 22 crore for development of drug formulations. The facility will come up at Peenya which is the location of the present facility of the company.

Hyderabad-based Lee Pharma Ltd is investing Rs 20 crore for setting a unit at Raichur in north Karnataka. The unit is for the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Bangalore-based Kaseb Healthcare Pvt Ltd is investing Rs 17 crore for opening up a full-fledged formulation unit which is slated for completion in July 2010. The company has also invested Rs 8 crore to open up a formulations unit in Hassan which will be completed in December 2008. The project was cleared to come up in the special economic zone (SEZ) in Hassan in October 2007.

Tejkamal Trade Links Pvt Ltd is looking at an investment of Rs 10 crore to set up facility for production of liquids at Dobspet. The unit which will have a capacity of around 2 lakh bottles per day. It will cater to the orders of contract manufacturers of Indian and multinational companies in the country, stated Y K Kansal, head, Tejkamal Trade Links Pvt Ltd Sami Labs has also planned a unit in Hassan for the production of the ayurveda bulk drugs. No other details were disclosed.

Sun Formulations Pvt Ltd is setting up a unit to develop bio-formulations in Mysore. Biotechnology major Avesthagen Limited will set-up a research and development unit at Whitefield on 2.63 acres. The project will be completed by June end 2010.
Richcore India had also planned to invest in a new facility to manufacture Enzyme & Nutraceutical Formulations at Malur. The land which is allocated by the Karantaka Industrial Area Development Board is yet to come through.

Phikon Biotech plans to set-up a formulation unit in Neelamangala which is expected to be completed in August 2009. Pentacare Ayur Pharma intends to set-up a plant at Hassan for the setting up a formulations unit. Arvee Chem Pharma (P) Ltd. is setting up a bulk drug (150 tpd) and intermediates unit of 50 tpd at Mysore and Hassan.