Chemo group set up formulations unit to meet global market

Hyderabad, Sep 27: To meet the Global market, the Rs 10,000 Crore Spanish pharmaceuticals manufacturer Chemo Group has opened a unit, “ Chemo India Formulations, at Genome valley here today. The unit that will produce oral solid dosage, including tablets, caplets, hard gelatin capsules and pellets. The company had already invested Rs 100 crore in Phase-I and it plans to invest around Rs 500 crore in Phase –II and III expansion including purchasing of equipment spread over the next 4-5 years, Chemo Group General Manager Lucas Sigman said ata press conference here today. With this new facility, developed in 5 acres land provided by Telangana government, the company now has 15 plants around the world, he said the Hyderabad facility will cater to global market including Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa and not for domestic. The unit will handle development and production of therapeutic drug candidates in the areas of blood pressure, heart, diabetes besides other drugs, he said. Mr Sigman said the new plant is part of the company’s growth strategy. Our goal is to develop affordable high-quality medicines for patients around the world. Speaking on the occasion, Chemo India Formulations Managing Director Dr K R Kumar said the company has a workforce of 35 professionals, who are experts in development of complex dosage forms and production and 15 more experts to be hired by this year end. The commercial production will be started by next year, he said the company will use technologies such as high shear granulation, fluid bed granulation, dry granulation, direct compression and palletisation. We have created a 1,00,000 sq ft built up area so far and will create more space for lab and production in the Phase II in the next two years hiring 75 people and eventually double the space by creating additional capacities and utility space in the third space by taking the total workforce count to 350 in the next 4-5 years, he said. The company will go for regulatory approvals in India, Europe and the US in the coming years. It will carry out stability studies and file abbreviated new drug applications, Dr Kumar said. The Group is present in more than 40 countries in Europe, America, Asia with 15 plants and 10 R&D centres and 33 affiliated pharmaceutical companies, serving 1,150 clients in 96 countries, the Company MD said. UNI