THE ECONOMIC TIMES

December 23, 2004

Avesthagen, Cipla expand ties

 

Our Bangalore Bureau

22 DECEMBER

PHARMA major Cipla and Bangalore based integrated biotech and bioinformatics company, Avesthagen, have expanded the scope of their ongoing biotherapeutics development programme. The programme includes development of drugs to cater to the oncology and cardiovascular segments.

"There is presently a dearth of high quality next generation drugs to cater to these segments at an affordable price. The collaborative initiative - the first of its kind in the country hopes to plug that gap", said Dr. Villoo Morawala Patell, founder and CEO, Avesthagen.

Development of new technology platform  for expression of recombinant proteins forms an integral part of the partnership, she added. The IP emerging from the development of new technologies will be shared between the two companies. The companies are also evaluating options for large-scale manufacturing of products.

The Indian biopharmaceutical business, estimated at $200 million, is expected to grow to about $3.3 billion by 2007-08.