Bal Pharma To Manufacture Anti-Diabetic Dissolvent

Bal Pharma Ltd is setting up a bulk drugs unit near Bangalore for the manufacture of specialised anti-diabetic dissolvent for the first time in the country.

This will enable the Bangalore-based pharmaceutical company to produce Gliclazide, the dissolvent, which is currently being imported

According to Shailesh Siroya, managing director, Bal Pharma, although formulations necessary for producing anti-diabetic drugs are indigenously manufactured, dissolvents are yet to be produced locally.

He added that the bulk drugs plant is being set up close to the company's existing unit at Bommasandra Industrial Area near Bangalore at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore.

As part of its plan to widen its operations, Bal Pharma has also finalised the takeover of Miaami Pharma and Chemicals near Pune. The company, which was taken over from the cosmetic major, Lakme Ltd, is engaged in the manufacture of intravenous fluids and eye and ear drops.

 

The takeover has been finalised following an MoU signed by Bal Pharma with Lakme. Bal will be paying Rs 5 crore to Lakme. The Pune plant uses the latest `form-fill-seal' process in plastic containers, Siroya said.

Miaami Pharma is in the process of entering into contracts with Cadilla and Ranbaxy for the manufacture of their eye and ear drops at its facility. The Pune unit has already tied up with Cipla, Blue Cross, Alkem, Tata Pharma and Serum Institute of India to manufacture various brands, Siroya added.

Lakme, which took Miaami Pharma in 1991, decided to dispose off the unit on account of marketing limitations resulting in low capacity utilisation. The plant was used by Lakme for its other division known as Tata Pharma.

According to Siroya, the bulk drugs plant will produce 300 kg of Gliclazide per year. The manufacture of anti-diabetic dissolvents became possible after its R & D division undertook process and developmental work, he said.

Bal Pharma proposes to introduce various products in both the large volume and small volume segments. The company plans to increase exports of some of its formulations, and also proposes to contract a part of its capacity with leading companies .

Besides the new unit, the company is also upgrading facilities in the formulation unit, Siroya said. The product list of the company includes paracetamol, aluminium hydroxide and povidone iodine.