Eisai Pharma to begin production from Sept

Eisai Pharmatechnology and Manufacturing India Private Limited, a subsidiary of Japanese pharma major Eisai group, expects to start commercial production from its Visakhapatnam plant by September 2010.

The group has invested about Rs 250 crore in the manufacturing plant, which has come up at the Eisai Knowledge Centre in the Pharma City Special Economic Zone here. The facility comprises a research lab, pilot plant and an active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and formulations manufacturing unit.

Speaking to the media here on Wednesday, Sanjit Singh Lamba, president, EPMI, said, “Initially, we propose to produce APIs and formulations of Aricept, indicated for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, anti-inflammatory drug Myonal and next-generation global products, with plans to expand the portfolio at a later stage.”

 

This unit currently has a production capacity of two billion tablets a year and 30 tonne of formulations. It would take a decision on doubling the capacity in January for which it would invest over $50 million, he said.

The company, which spends 19 per cent of its revenues on research and development (R&D), would export 51 per cent of its production from here to other countries.

The Vizag plant is Eisai's fourth R&D unit after Japan, UK and the US. “The Vizag plant employs 100 staff of which about 20 are researchers. We would hire another 20-25 people for research work after expansion,” he said.

Eisai group focuses on oncology products globally, he said, adding that the company would manufacture such products at its Vizag unit in future.