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However, some 15 km away, Cadila Healthcare's sprawling research centre in Moraiya is a world of its own. Spread over 180,000 sq metres, with ample lushness all around, it is dedicated exclusively to discoveries of New Chemical Entities (NCEs).
Even on a rainy day, the campus and the roads leading to the facility are clean and dry, thanks to the water management. It's 10 in the morning, and the labs are buzzing with activity. Scientists and clinicians walk around, monitoring the hues and shades of chemicals and vapours in the hundreds of test tubes and vessels.
The six-building Zydus Research Centre (ZRC) caters to every step of drug discovery. Starting from a cell base assay, considered the first step of research, where a chemist develops a compound, the Centre offers facilities ranging from animal studies on primates to conducting phase-1 clinical studies, where medicines are tested on healthy subjects. The main building is divided in two parts. One is occupied by laboratories catering to many stages of initial research such as cell biologics, molecular pharmacology, formulations and the bio-analytical department. The other part is occupied by a 52-bed clinical set-up, along with another eight-bed intensive care unit, used for phase-1 research.
Within ZRC, there are customised research facilities for different animals. The Primate Facility, at the end of the campus, stands out with its environment-friendly architecture. It is the only one in the country to test drugs on monkeys. "You have to see them (monkeys) as human beings to have higher quality best results for your tests," says P Y Guru, general manager of the Animal Research Facility. Guru researched through various primate facilities in the US before designing the one at ZRC. He also designed the mural at the opening, on Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy. The facility exemplifies the company's commitment towards research. There is television to showcase cartoons for the monkeys living there; it has also taken care to ensure the fruits and vegetables consumed by these animals are chemical-free, so that they do not contaminate the tests conducted on them. The whole facility is adorned with toys and instruments to create the sounds of thunder and chirping of birds. Outside the facility, there are three uniquely designed cages, with trees and swings. The idea is to make the habitants happy.
The Animal Research Centre was built in 1999-2000 and expanded in 2004. It houses a few thousand mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits. A building across the road is the Canine Research Facility, home for 400-500 dogs at a time.
'Essential investment'
Though many are critical of such infrastructure creation, citing the uncertainty in recovering the capital, the Cadila management insists is an essential part of drug discovery strategy. "We were committed to create anything that is required for research. Creating inhouse capabilities helped us to do things not only faster but at a reasonable cost, as we do not have to depend on others," explains Cadila's chairman and managing director, Pankaj R Patel.
Discovery of Lipaglyn, commissioned in 2000-01, took around 12 years and an investment of merely $250 million, as facilities and capabilities were available inhouse. However, investment in R&D is not a one-time cost for Cadila. Unlike many other domestic companies, it spends around seven per cent of its annual turnover on research. It clocked revenue of Rs 6,300 crore during 2012-13.
However, Patel points out, infrastructure, though essential, is "merely brick and mortar", which can be built by anyone. The uniqueness lies in creating capabilities in the form of human resources to run sophisticated machines and to generate and interpret data correctly, crucial for drug discovery.
Cadila's NCE R&D Centre employs a little over 400 people, with 90 per cent being scientists working across streams of pharmaceutical research.
The division, headed by Mukul Jain, includes alumni from international universities and institutes like Johns Hopkins Research Institute, University of Massachusetts, Cleveland Clinic and University of California. There are also professionals who have worked with many multinational companies. For instance, Vikram Ramanathan, who heads drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics at the research centre, used to work with GlaxoSmithKline before joining here.
The company has also engaged young minds in research. "We are always on a lookout for fresh and young minds that can be moulded and guided by experienced people. The mix works well," according to Patel. The management also believes in continuous training. The first floor at ZRC's main building is occupied by a symposium theatre. The Centre organises bi-annual research seminars, addressed and attended by scientists from over the world. This ensures interaction between scientists and helps those at ZRC have a second opinion or guidance on their work, says Jain. He recalls how scientists from Merck who attended one such seminar shared case studies of Januvia, an anti-diabetic drug.
He adds as head of the Centre, his duty is also to regularly identify researchers for sending abroad, for training related to their specific area and skills. Besides, Cadila has engaged a Scientific Advisory Board, of scientists and clinicians who have worked with organisations such as Merck, Hoffmann-La Roche and Eli Lilly. The board advises the group in its research endeavours and meets regularly to discuss projects.
Patel says such guidance helped the company achieve the breakthrough in Lipaglyn. "For us, it was the first time. Guidance and support that we received helped us achieve that first," he said. "It is more important in research to be able to stop a project than to continue a project. If you chase a ghost, you will waste all your time and energy behind the ghost." The company has around 20 other projects in different stages of development. As for Lipaglyn, the drug maker plans to spend more to be able to treat additional indications.
