www.pharmabiz.com - Aug 21, 2008

The Ahmedabad-based Marck Biosciences Ltd, a leading manufacturer and marketer of sterile dosages pharma products, is all set to set up a new facility to consolidate its position in the growing sterile dosages pharma market. The company would make an investment of Rs 800 million over the next three years for this end. The proposed new facility would be used to manufacture a comprehensive range of formulations and injectibles in glass vials, sterile ointments, mono-dose ophthalmics and an array of lens cleaning solutions for global markets.

"With a wider and deeper portfolio of sterile dosages products, we will be able to address a large share of the sterile dosage market with both our own brand and through contract manufacturing. Marck Biosciences is committed to consolidate its outsourcing business by leveraging its sterile dosages expertise. The company's formulation and development is geared to match the market expectations, offering new product range to front runners in the market. Our existing facility has five blow-fill-seal technology lines. Having established ourselves in BFS sterile dosages market, we have decided to add new technological capabilities to manufacture a diverse range of sterile dosages products under different therapeutic segments," said, Bhavesh Patel, managing director, Marck Biosciences.

Apart, the company unveiled that it would launch its products in 15 more countries during 2008-2009. Marck has a healthy pipeline of regulatory approvals as it has already filed in excess of 400 dossiers.

Referring to the company's strategy for international markets, Bhavesh Patel said, "We have a twin-track strategy for international markets. In the emerging markets, including countries in Africa, Latin America, South East Asia and Central Asia, we will strengthen our foothold by adding ophthalmic and injectibles to our offerings. For the regulated markets like US, UK, Europe and South East Asia the business strategy revolves around ophthalmics, respiratory nebulisers and injectibles. We are already present in more than 55 countries world wide. With the new focus we will not only expand our presence but also consolidate our position in the existing markets."

"Marck today has a range of sterile dosages covering therapeutic areas such as ophthalmics, respiratory, irrigation solutions and anti-infectives. This is in addition to its sizable presence in fluid therapy segment. With our investments and capacity expansion, we continue to build on our position as the most versatile sterile dosage pharma company in India. IFCI Venture Capital Funds (IVCF), a subsidiary of IFCI Ltd, has an equity investment of Rs 200 million and we are extremely pleased with the decision of IVCF to invest in Marck's equity and support our growth plans," he added.

Marck is targeting to grow its revenue to over Rs 1000 million in 2008-09. When the investment is completed in 2010-2011, Marck's investment at Kheda facility in Gujarat would cross a total of Rs 2200 million.