To kick off exports to South Asia

Reliance Life Sciences, which launched five plasma protein therapeutic products in the Indian market a year ago, will soon start exports to the South-East Asian and South Asian markets.

"Our team recently visited some of the countries and we are in the process of assessing the scope for these products in South Asia and South-East Asia. The product registration with the regulatory agencies will take a few months and we hope to launch at least two of the products within six to eight months. We are looking at a soft-launch and is also exploring the possibilities of partnering with potential players in these countries," said K V Subramaniam, president, Reliance Life Sciences.

Reliance Life currently markets plasma protein products AlbuRel, ImmunoRel, ReliSeal, HemoRel A and ReliPlasma in the domestic market, mainly through direct supply to hospitals.

Currently, Reliance has a pilot-scale manufacturing facility and is constructing a large-scale world class facility - to be operational this year. "The response to the products are good and we had modest revenues in the first year of operations. We anticipate exponential growth in revenues this year, and exports will fuel it," said Subramaniam.

Reliance Life plans to launch about 40 to 50 products in various therapeutic categories of speciality plasma proteins, biosimilars, novel proteins, monoclonal antibodies and siRNA molecules. He said the company, which acquired GeneMedix of Ireland, is also exploring the option of adding more biotech companies to its fold in the domestic front and in European Union.

Commenting on the planned foray into the pharmaceutical manufacturing segment with focus on active pharmaceutical ingrediants (API) and generics, he said Reliance Life is working out a roadmap which will be unveiled soon. Large-scale investments worth several crores will be made into the facilities and Reliance is in the process of identifying the areas to set up plants.

The plan is to set up a greenfield project, than acquiring existing facilities. Products will target the regulated markets and plants will conform to global standards. In the domestic market, Reliance Life Science will launch own formulations, promoted by its field force through medical stores, besides selling through its Reliance Retail chain.