The Hindu Business Line : Avesthagen, Meditab set up biological manufacturing unit

AVESTHA Gengraine Technologies Pvt. Ltd has announced that it has jointly set up a biological manufacturing venture in Bangalore. It has partnered with Meditab Specialities Pvt. Ltd for the venture.

Without giving investment figures, Avesthagen said the first phase of the new manufacturing facility would be operational by the second quarter of 2006, and the second phase in 2008.

The new US FDA-compliant entity, Avesta Biotherapeutics Pvt. Ltd (ABPL), will manufacture a new generation of targeted therapies that are under development at Avesthagen. It will also explore opportunities to co-develop novel biologicals and pursue contract manufacturing of biologicals.

Dr Villoo Morawala Patell, Founder & CEO of Avesthagen, said the venture was the first step to boost the new biologicals development.

Avesthagen, which has tied up with Cipla Ltd to develop biotherapeutic products, said it expected to launch the first product in the market in late 2006. The products would be marketed through Cipla's channels. The biopharmaceuticals programme includes development of drugs for autoimmune disorders and cancers.

"The Indian biopharmaceutical business, currently estimated at $200 million, is expected to grow to about $3.3 billion by 2007-08, dominated by recombinant proteins, vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. ABPL hopes to capitalise on this opportunity as a base to catapult it into markets abroad," the company said.

The Bangalore-based company also plans to set up cord blood banks in the country to cater to a growing demand in the area. The cord blood banks are expected to be in place in a year or two.

Avestha will integrate its existing pharmacogenomics programme with the cord blood banks.

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