Ocimum Biosolutions, which has recently completed five years of its business operations, is planning acquisitions primarily in the areas of oligo services and microarrays. The company in the recent past has acquired the microarray assets of the Germany-based MWG Biotech AG. It can produce catalog arrays covering 40,000 genes to custom arrays with 25 individual genes in short lead times.

The company is also planning to develop disease specific arrays. It has identified the need to develop arrays specific to cancer and other disorders. In this direction, Ocimum has initiated discussions with Indo-American Cancer Institute, Hyderabad to work out the modalities of possible collaborations. Samples and data may be provided by the Institute, Anuradha Acharya, CEO, Ocimum Biosolutions told Pharmabiz.

Ocimum is also contemplating similar tie-ups with other hospitals in Hyderabad. It may also look at developing disease specific chips for diabetes, targeting Indian population who are susceptible to the disease.

She added, microarrays and LIMS have been contributing majority of the company's revenues in the last five years. Countries like Japan and Korea are proving to be good markets for microarrays. With the increasing demand for microarrays, the company sees potential to offer Bio-IT services, across the markets.

Biotech reagents are another area of interest to the company, as most of the reagents are sourced from the West at present in India. The dearth of reagents makes research expensive in India, she noted.

Ocimum has emerged as a life sciences R & D enabling company with focus areas as BioIT, Microarrays and Research Services. The company has over 200 clients across the world. It has labs in the US and Germany and is planning to spread its presence in UK and Canada.

The company has recently started offering oligonucleotide synthesis in the US and plans to offer the same from Hyderabad soon. It is also planning to develop oligo production centres across the country in the coming years and has identified places such as Delhi and Bangalore suitable for such an expansion, she informed.