Biological E to strengthen biotech division aiming at global markets
Thursday, October 11, 2001 08:00 IST Our Bureau, Hyderabad
Biological Evans (BE) is currently in the process of refocusing its biotechnology division into an independent entity as part of its plans to widen its export markets and expand its product range in biotechnology segment. The company is also planning to undertake the setting up of a green field plant to manufacture its products.
Commenting on the future plans of the company in the biotechnology segment, official sources said that BE has initiated an aggressive R & D strategy to continuously develop a sustainable product line. "The product strategy is to focus aggressively on our core strength in vaccines. However future vaccines will embrace new technologies such as recombinant technologies and DNA technologies," the company sources said.
The company is to launch its Hepatitis B vaccine within a year. "Our aim is to eventually use a different and unique expression system as compared to ones existing in the market today as part of the overall strategy for recombinant products", they said. The hepatitis B vaccine of BE will be the result of technology developed and transferred by the government. Sources said that the department of science and technology had recently awarded the company in connection with this technology.
The company feels that the paediatric hepatitis B market would get converted to the combination vaccines while the adult market will still remain a focus area for some time. The company has earmarked a number of vaccines to be launched over the next 3-5 years. "They range from basic vaccines to optional vaccines as well as combination vaccines." They said.
BE has a strong presence in biotechnology, formulations and bulk drugs. The focus areas are gynaecology, paediatrics, gastroenterology and general medicine. The company is considering marketing all the new molecules in these therapeutic segments in the country.
"Our growth will come through biotechnology products. We will pursue this path aggressively and make the best out of the current pace of research taking place here as well as in other places of the world", they added.
