The Hindu Business Line : Sun Pharma to set up two new R&D units

SUN Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd is planning to add two new research and development (R&D) facilities in Mumbai and Baroda and will increase its expenditure to Rs 75 crore next fiscal from the current Rs 45 crore.

Speaking to newspersons on the sidelines of the International Conference on IPRs and Public Health, Mr Dilip Shanghvi, Chairman and Managing Director, Sun Pharma, said: "The total spends on R&D would go up to 6 per cent of our total expenditure. We have already invested Rs 50 crore in the two campuses and hope to invest another Rs 50 crore." He said that the investments have been made through internal accruals.

Currently, the company has two R&D centres at Mumbai and Baroda. "We plan to shift our scientists from the existing facility at Mumbai to the new one, while Baroda will continue to have two centres," he added. Currently, the two R&D centres have about 280 people and, the company is planning to add about 150 more people. The two facilities will work on both new chemical entities as well as drug delivery systems. Mr Shanghvi declined to divulge details.

The company is also planning to focus on the international markets. It is planning to file for approvals for about 10 products in the US. The company has a subsidiary in the US.

Sun Pharma was recently in the news after it was reported that an anti-cancer drug, Letroz, (generic name: Letrozole) was used for trials to treat infertility among women. The permission of the Drugs Controller-General of India (DGCI) was not taken, which is mandatory for commencing any kind of trials.

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