Neuberg Diagnostics to focus on new-generation technology

Neuberg Diagnostics, backed by entrepreneur GSK Velu, will focus on new generation technologies in the diagnostics space and will partner with labs and research centres.

Velu, Chairman and Managing Director, Trivitron Healthcare and major investor, Neuberg Diagnostics, said new generation technologies like genomics, metabolomics and proteomics that provide accurate diagnosis and also combination diagnostics, where hospitals, pharma companies and pathologists work together, is the future of diagnostics industry.

“But, India is lagging behind in terms of technology. So, this is the area I want to focus on and what I’m trying to do with Neuberg Diagnostics,” he added. There are five labs under Neuberg — Anand Diagnostic Laboratory Services, Supratech Micropath, Ehrlich labs, Global Labs and Minerva Labs and around ₹450 crore has been invested in acquiring major shares and upgrading these labs.

The company will have three infrastructure models — Global centre of excellence, Regional reference centres and Satellite centres. There are three centres of excellence: Anand Diagnostics in Bengaluru in the area of proteomics and metabolomics; Supratech in genomics space and Global Labs from South Africa in virology and testing infectious diseases. “We are also creating an infrastructure to upgrade other labs.

Currently, there are 10 labs and 40 satellite centres for all the five companies put together in the South and West India. “We want to increase it to 100 in the next two years,” he added. “The focus will be to expand in all States in the South and West India, Africa, West Asia and South Asia markets like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal,” Velu said.

“We are in talks with the major pharmaceutical companies as well,” Velu said. “If we are talking about personalised medicine, all stakeholders - pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and clinicians - should work together. This is another area we are working on,” he added.

“We also want to establish research centres in the US and European markets. Talks are on with some universities and small labs in the regions,” Velu said. According to him, having a presence will give the company access to latest technologies and bring it to India.

But, there are challenges. “Though there are start-ups working in this space, the market is still nascent. Unless you have your presence there, it will be difficult to bring them to India,” he added. The company will invest another ₹300 crore for the expansion plans in coming years.