Geneva-based SGS Group, a global leader in inspection, verification and certification services is setting up a dedicated life sciences laboratory at the TIDAL Park in Chennai.

The laboratory with an investment of $1.7 million would offer services like drugs testing for government and international procurement agencies, quality control of drugs and bio-analytical testing apart form certifying quality control processes in drug production from raw material to finished product.

This facility of about 16,000 sq. ft would be inaugurated on October 23, 2004. The pharma-life sciences laboratory in Chennai is the first in Asia and sixth world after Belgium, Canada, US, Spain and Germany. The facility would also seek USFDA approval, officials informed here.

The new facility at Chennai will have clean rooms meeting the 10,000-class category with NABL accreditation through ISO/IEC Guide 17025. The main task of SGS India is analyse stability, toxicology and method of development of the drugs. It will test drugs for procurement agencies in India like the ministry of health and family welfare along with the state health departments. It will also help international agencies like the WHO and UNICEF to ascertain the quality of drugs to be purchased. Another service offered is the quality control of drug manufacture from raw material to finished products where tests will be conducted during each batch produced.

The Group entered the pharma-life sciences business two years ago. It was keen to open a dedicated lab in India after going by the business potential. SGS India already has major customers from the pharmaceutical industry, ministry of health and family welfare apart from state health and family welfare departments. In fact the Tamil Nadu Health Services is its biggest customer. All drugs purchased by the government are sent to SGS lab to ascertain the stability and quality standards, informed Capt U Bharat Raj, E/SE, region manager SGS India.

"We would be able to help companies to comply with USFDA requirements in the shortest possible manner because our tests add credibility during stringent global inspections and the company is targeting substantial growth from the pharma business in India," said Claude Lanouhe, managing director, SGS Group.

The Group also announced its additional investment plans for its life sciences lab in Chennai where it will investment $ 2.1 million in the next three to set up a clinical research organisation. Five years later it would invest $4.5 million to firm up its presence in the country.