The Hindu Business Line : Sanofi-Aventis opens R&D centre in Goa

French pharmaceutical group Sanofi-Aventis has opened its largest Asian and first Indian pharmaceutical development centre in Goa, with an investment of Rs 100 crore.

This is the group’s single largest investment in India, as part of its strategy to expand its presence and accelerate growth both in India and Asia, a note from the company said. The centre is operational with around 50 employees, a company official told Business Line, indicating that the number could increase.

The centre will be an Asian hub for analytical and pharmaceutical formulation development, with the capacity to develop 12 pharmaceutical compounds per year. No further details were given.

It will play a pivotal role in allowing the group to introduce new, quality medicines in the Asia-Pacific and global marketplace, the company said.

Globally, Sanofi-Aventis has about 127 compounds, including vaccines, at different stages of development, according to a company statement on research issued last year.

Crucial for India

The investment in India is significant, coming at a time when Novartis is locked in a patent-related legal battle over its cancer drug Glivec in India, said an industry representative. Representatives of multinational drug majors had cautioned that the Glivec battle could send negative signals to other companies looking to invest in India.

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