The Hindu Business Line : Jupiter Bio bets big on peptide pharma

Future plans
The company aims at Europe and Japan to market the products
In Europe, it has got Dr Rudolf Tanner onto the company board
In Japan, the company has formed a wholly owned subsidiary

Hyderabad , Jan. 8

Jupiter Biosciences Ltd is betting big on peptide pharmaceuticals, which command a global drug market of $7 billion, to bolster its growth path in the next few years.

The Hyderabad-based Rs 78-crore turnover company has developed eight generic peptides, which are ready for launch. It has decided to set up a manufacturing facility in Maryland, US to take these products to the market quickly, according to Mr Venkat R. Kalavakolanu, Chairman and Managing Director.

The Maryland facility with about 5,500 sq.ft area and necessary equipment would be ready by May. An investment of Rs 20 crore would be made there. The company is using the non-automated route to make these peptide pharmaceuticals, so that it emerges the most cost competitive, he told Business Line.

Peptides are a chain of amino acids, which hold the big advantage of making chemical drugs with least side effects. In all chemical drugs there is a two per cent impurity, which causes side effects. Peptide pharmaceuticals at present is a small volume game, with potential high growth.

Claiming to be the only `Start to finish' capability company in the world today, Mr Venkat said the company was adopting the strategy of sending the raw material from its Indian facilities to the Maryland plant, where the final steps would be closed in the cycle of manufacture of these generic peptides, making them cost effective.

The peptide portfolio of Jupiter Biosciences is in the areas of cancer, cardiology and hormones. The company has targeted Europe and Japan to market the products. In Europe, it has got Dr Rudolf Tanner, a former Vice-President of Bachem, Switzerland, the $175-million global leader in peptides onto the company board. "We are looking for acquisition in the near future and his experience is a great asset", Mr Ventat said.

In Japan, which again is a big market, the company has formed a wholly owned subsidiary. With investments of $1-2 million, the subsidiary plans to supply peptide and chiral intermediaries to the top four Japanese pharma companies, he added.

Jupiter Biosciences has strengths in advanced organic chemicals, chiral and peptide intermediaries and biotech. It has developed a combination of chemistry and biotech strengths. Its strategy is to target peptide raw materials, advanced organic and chiral intermediaries, which do not need regulatory approvals to the regulated markets of US, Europe, Canada and Japan.

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