Lupin aims for biotech growth; first drug in 2011

Having emerged as a strong player in the global generics market, pharmaceuticals major Lupin is now eyeing the biotechnology sector. The company, which had sales of R4,740 crore in 2009-10, is planning to launch its first biological drug in mid-2011.

Having emerged as a strong player in the global generics market, pharmaceuticals major Lupin is now eyeing the biotechnology sector. The company, which had sales of R4,740 crore in 2009-10, is planning to launch its first biological drug in mid-2011.

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“Lupin currently has seven proteins in different stages of development. We are now looking to launch our first biological in the Indian market by mid-2011,” said Kamal Sharma, managing director, Lupin.

Biologicals or Biosimilars are officially approved versions of innovator bio-pharmaceutical drugs, which are produced by using biotechnology. The market for biological drugs globally is pegged at well over a $100 billion.

For Lupin, Biotech is a key area of strategic focus and ‘a key part of roadmap’ for the future. “Our goal would be to see that 5-7 per cent of our business in the next five years should come from our biotech business,” said Sharma.

Biologicals are a new sector of opportunity for Indian companies as around eight major biological products having revenue of around $15 billion are expected to go off patent globally by 2013.