J&J plans advanced drug research centre in Mumbai

Johnson and Johnson, one of the largest drug makers in the world, is in discussions with Indian drug companies and academic institutions for tie-ups in drug discovery research and opening a late stage drug development centre in Mumbai which will act as one of the key drug research centres for J&J worldwide.

“We follow a decentralised approach which will help faster time to market and information sharing as India represents a rich source of collaborative possibility”, said Paul Stoffels, global head, pharmaceutical R&D of Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development. He noted that J&J had already entered into a deal with the Tatas-funded Advinus Therapeutics of Bangalore to research certain drug targets.

The late-phase new chemical entity (NCE) Analytical and Pharmaceutical Development Center (APDC) at Mulund in Mumbai, will conduct late phase drug development services in coordination with J&J’s Asia Pacific centre in Shanghai which will do early stage development. J&J’s future drug research and development would be centered in three clusters in the US, Europe and in India and China, said Robert J Sheroff, president of Global Pharmaceutical Supply Group of J&J.

APDC will initially develop potential new treatment for tuberculosis, a late-stage HIV compound and a number of products designed to treat multi-drug-resistant bacteria. At a later stage, the Mumbai centre will be scaled up to be a part of all drug development activities of J&J.

The centre, which will employ close to 300 scientists and set up with an investment of close to $9 million, will be a hub for analytical and pharmaceutical formulation development processes.