Last July, Sun Pharma's Mr Dilip Shanghvi was set to pick up 11 per cent in Bio-Light Israeli Life Sciences Investments Ltd, an investment of $10.5 million through MJ Pharmaceuticals Ltd, report the Israeli media.

Mr Israel Makov, former Chief Executive of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, had just recently taken over as Chairman Bio-Light, they add.

Whether Mr Shanghvi and Mr Makov knew each other earlier, or last year's deal brought them together – the alliance appears to have comes a full circle with the appointment of Mr Makov as Chairman of Sun Pharma.

The Makov appointment is an obvious signal on the global plan that Sun seeks to chart for itself, say industry watchers.

And the plan has other key players. Heading Sun's business in the US, for instance, is ex-GlaxoSmithKline man, Mr Kal Sundaram. He was, last month, appointed as Chairman of Taro, the Israeli generic-drugs maker that Sun fought long and hard for to bring into its fold.

So Mr Sundaram heads the US, ex-Teva man Makov is Chairman, and Mr Shanghvi himself spearheads research and development and overall marketing – laying the foundation for what could be accelerated growth for Sun Pharma, buoyed by the global expertise of the two former multinational men.

In the past, Sun has said that it would look for opportunities for growth globally, Mr Shanghvi told analysts. Explaining Mr Makov's role in the company, he said, “His experience will help build a much more global business.”

Research spend

Sun Pharma spent Rs 445 crore in the year on research, about 5.6 per cent of sales, Mr Shanghvi said. In the year ahead, the company expected to spend between six and eight per cent on sales. Further, it projected consolidated sales to grow at about 18-20 per cent , he added.

With the building blocks in place, the estimated Rs 8,000-odd crore company's ability to catapult itself into the next level of growth will be closely watched by both industry and stake-holders.

>jyothi@thehindu.co.in

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