The two-year-old, Leonid Chemicals research laboratory in Bangalore is now galloping on the fast lane in the specialty chemicals arena. The company which is known for its expertise in organic chemistry, fine chemicals and reagents has drawn up plans to gear up to offer high grade solvents to the pharma, biotech and chemical industry customers.

The company is engaged in the production and testing of a range of specialized chemicals for India and global customers in the UK and US. It is also engaged in developing a catalog, which features 1,500 chemicals, which it can supply or provide, customized orders.

Purity details of chemicals are critical in today's drug development efforts. Customers purchase huge quantities and hence it is crucial to provide the purity analysis. Leonid Chemicals has devised a three-pronged strategy to maximize orders from existing customers, expand through core competencies and diversify into new offerings like Heterocyclics, and specialtyfine chemicals. The demand for amino acids and fluro-chemistry is also catching up, S Paul Joshua, manager, quality control, Leonid Chemicals told Pharmabiz.

The laboratory located in the Yeshwantpur Industrial Area, Bangalore works round-the-clock to conduct quality control and quality assurance tests for pharma-biotech and chemicals industries. A team of post graduates in synthetic and organic chemistry operate in two shifts. The company has installed equipment worth Rs 1.5 crore. The facility adheres to zero discharge norms stipulated by the European Union. It is also ISO 9001 and 14001 compliant however certifications are yet to be issued.

The lab provides online certification to customers for the chemicals analysed and this ensures transparency of the service. The Patent Regime has resulted in a profusion of activity in the contract research segment, which has primarily given a fillip to the growth of research in chemicals. This prompted the company go in for further expansion of the lab area, stated Joshua.

In order to offer the entire basket of services from research to the final product, Leonid commissioned its GMP certified plant at Dobspet on the Tumkur Road, Bangalore last month for production of lab chemicals including Analytical Reagents, Laboratory Reagents, HPLC Solvents and Buffers, Specially dried Solvents,Peptide synthesis and combichem, Deutero GmbH-Germany (deuterated solvents for NMR).Stains and Indicators and Technical Grade Reagents. The facility can also manufacture high grade Acetonitrile HPLC grade.

Current size of the lab chemicals sector in India is estimated to be around Rs 200 crore and growing at 30 per cent annually. There is cut throat competition in India for quality and pricing with the presence of Chinese products. The leading players n India are Ranbaxy (New Delhi), SD Fine Chemicals (Mumbai), NICE (Kochi), Leonid (Bangalore) and Loba (Mumbai).