Making a foray in the generics market of Japan, the Zydus group, a global healthcare provider and one of India's leading, integrated healthcare groups, announced the establishment of "Zydus Pharma Inc.". A wholly owned subsidiary, Zydus Pharma, will market formulation generics and API in Japan. Zydus Pharma, will initiate the process for registration of products in 2007. Besides marketing generics, the company will also explore collaborations and alliances with Japanese pharmaceutical companies in areas such as joint research and development, co-marketing, contract manufacturing for API, intermediates and formulations. These firms would include branded or specialty firms, generic drug firms and pharmaceutical venture companies. Zydus Pharma, will be headed by Mr. Kazuhiro Kawabata as the President. The company is headquartered at Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Mr. Kawabata has a long-standing experience of over 30 years in the Japanese pharmaceutical industry and was the director, corporate licensing & international business development of Eisai Co., and managing director of Japanese subsidiary of a foreign pharmaceutical company, besides also holding several important positions. With increasing medical costs in Japan, it has become essential to avail cost effective medication by sourcing 'generic drugs' of high quality. Zydus' vertically integrated operations and expertise of over 50 years in healthcare, enables it to provide customised, market specific approach for cost effective therapies of excellent quality. Speaking on the new development, chairman and managing Director of the Zydus Group, Mr. Pankaj R. Patel said, "Meeting healthcare needs with affordable, high quality therapies has been our constant endeavour. We have been engaged in building healthier communities globally and reaching out to people in US, Europe, Latin America and across the world. We now have an opportunity to extend our commitment to the people of Japan. We hope to do this by leveraging our strengths and expertise as a global healthcare provider and providing innovative healthcare solutions" With operations in US, Europe, Brazil and other emerging markets, Zydus is all set to emerge as a top ten global generics company by 2010 and a global research driven company by 2020. The group posted a turnover of Rs. 15 bn in 2005-06. Zydus has a globally compliant manufacturing infrastructure to support its global generics business. The state-of-the-art formulations manufacturing plant at Moraiya, Ahmedabad is approved by the USFDA, AFSSAPS, France, MHRA, U.K., ANVISA, Brazil amongst others. The plant manufactures complex dosage forms such as transdermals, inhalers (MDI/DPI), suppositories, vaccines, injectables and oral dosage forms such as tablets, hard and soft gel capsules. The group's API plants are also approved by USFDA and AFSSAPS. Zydus Cadila has a strong regulatory pipeline of 39 ANDAs and 40 DMFs. Investing 10% of its turnover on research, Zydus has more than 500 professionals spearheading its research and development initiatives. More than 230 scientists are engaged in the group's NCE research programme at the Zydus Research Centre, its dedicated research arm. The group's research pipeline comprises 3 INDs - ZYH1 for treating dyslipidemia is in phase II clinical trials, ZYH2 for treating Diabetes and ZYI1 for treating Pain are in Phase 1 clinical trials. NCE ZYO1 for treating Obesity is in pre-clinical development. The Zydus group with its headquarters in Ahmedabad, India, was founded in 1952. One of India's leading and most reputed healthcare groups, Zydus has a strong presence in the Indian healthcare market valued at $ 8.8 bn. The group is the leading player in cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and women's healthcare segments.
