The New York state of the US has invited major Indian pharmaceutical and biotech companies like Dr. Reddy's Labs, Sun Pharma, Ranbaxy Labs, and Zydus Cadila for setting up R&D units in the state, especially western New York.

The invitation is to utilise the facilities in the state for conducting clinical studies, setting up R&D infrastructure in the state or utilising infrastructure relating to high-throughput screening, bioinformatics and biotech research in major New-York-based universities like the SUNY, Rochester or Cornell, officials representing New York state told Pharmabiz.com.

Although the call is for R&D related investment in the state, NY is also anticipating Indian companies to set up their new offices and subsidiaries in the state. Till date, no Indian pharma company has made any investment in the state, it is learnt.

"Over 35 per cent of companies in western New York comprise of pharmaceutical and biotech companies. There is immense scope for collaborating with some of these firms if Indian companies set up base in the region. The tie-ups could be in the area of space sharing, jointly funding equipments. Companies can also share hi-tech infrastructure in the areas of basic research from important universities like SUNY, Rochester or Cornell all in western New York," said Dr. Bruce Holm, Senior Associate Dean of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York (SUNY).

In western NY alone, there are 650 biomedical companies all within a short distance of 50 miles. George E. Pataki, governor of NY has shown immense enthusiasm over inviting Indian pharmaceutical firms to the state and has set aside various incentives for investing companies, he added.

"The real estate and other operational rates in New York is cheaper compared to other locations like California or Boston," said Dr. Holm, who visited India to speak at the Global Bio Pharma Conference - 2004, held in Mumbai during September 14-17.