Cadila Pharmaceuticals, with its 400 multi-dimensional product formulations, spanning all major therapeutic groups in Human and 15 in Animal Health is a leader amongst the Indian Pharma Companies.

Continuous improvement of process efficiency is carried out, resulting in:

• Being the first to market several new and difficult formulations

• Percentage of rework being close to zero

• Process innovation to reduce the number of steps, while increasing yield

•  Ongoing effort to improve raw material utilization

• Standardization of base used in all creams & suspensions

• Tremendous cost benefit to customers

Biotechnology is a thrust area of research at Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd., over the last few years has established a strong R&D base in biotechnology and developed working relations with key R&D Institutes in the country for outsourcing of Research & Development. Presently, 30 scientists, many of them with Doctorates in their respective disciplines, comprise the Biotech R&D team. The R&D team has been further expanded; keeping in view the expansion plans.

The R&D team has a demonstrated track record of biotechnology absorption through collaborative research.

Currently about 20 products including conventional and recombinant vacancies, Anti cancer bio-therapeutics, diagnostics using recombinant antigens and natural thrombolites with high market potential are in Cadila Pharmaceuticals' Biotechnology basket. A sterling example is Immuvac, a potent, unique Immunomodulator developed for the first time in the world.

Sodium Hyaluronate, another biotech product was developed on the basis of technology obtained from Center for Biochemical Technology, Delhi. It has been commercialized in pre-filled syringes for Ophthalmic procedures as a surgical aid under the brand name VISIAL. Cadila Pharmaceuticals is the 3rd Company in the world to market it. Besides ophthalmology, it has got applications in osteoarthritis and rheumatism. For Osteoarthritis of the Knee, the product is made available in pre-filled syringe (PFS) under the brand Halonix. Since the product is based on easily available raw material, there is a tremendous price advantage, which would provide Hyaluronic preparations a competitive edge in export market as well.

CPL recently launched Streptokinase, which is a thrombolytic agent of bacterial origin and is a drug of choice for blood clots in the vessels which supply blood to the Heart i.e. Coronary heart disease, brain stroke and pulmonary embolism. Streptokinase activates plasminogen to plasmin, which in turn dissolves the clots.

STPase, CPL's streptokinase brand is a purified preparation of Streptokinase produced through bacterial fermentation. The product thus produced, is purified using the most sophisticated protein purification techniques. CPL's STPase is the only streptokinase indigenously produced in India, which is at par with world standards. Since CPL's streptokinase is indigenously developed, the availability would not be a problem at any point of time.

About half a dozen technologies including diagnostics for HIV, thrombolites for Myocardial infarction and a pro-biotic are planned for launch this year. An equal number of products are in the pipeline for immuno-prophylaxis, diagnosis of hepatitis C, therapeutics for Cancer, Viral hepatitis, diabetes mellitus and anemia. HIV diagnostics include the mandatory ELISA format and highly advanced rapid autologous red blood cells agglutination test referred to as Naked-Eye Visible Agglutination Assay (NEVA) based on a technology developed for the first time. NEVA can be used on the bedside or in the office of the doctor. Results are available in 3-5 minutes as against the mandatory ELISA, which takes significant time.

Specifically in the area of Biotechnology at CPL, collaborative research and development is being carried out in half a dozen National and International Research Laboratories like IMTECH, Chandigarh, NII and CBT, New Delhi, ICGEB, New Delhi & Trieste, Italy.

You can download studies on NEVA from here.

Cadila Pharmaceuticals has also set up its own research facility at Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, India, demonstrating an example of excellence in Industry academia interaction.

Biotechnology - Thrust Areas

• Development of rDNA proteins for prophylaxis, therapy and diagnosis

• Isolation, purification and characterization of biopolymers from natural sources (proteins, enzymes and carbohydrates) for development of surgical aids, therapeutics and prophylactics

• Immunodiagnostics development

• Development of PCR-based gene probe assays

• Development of polyclonal antibodies for use in passive immunizations (passive vaccines) and immunodiagnostics

• Collaborative research with national research laboratories and universities

• Sourcing of technologies, their adoption and development for commercialization