Zydus may set up US facility

Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of pharmaceutical major Zydus Cadila Healthcare, may set up a manufacturing facility in the US.

Zydus Pharmaceuticals, which was set up in 2004, also expects to launch nine drugs in the US during this year as the company has filed 12 abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) worth $7.4 billion. The remaining three drugs are expected to hit the US market in 2006-07.

Joseph Renner, chief executive officer, Zydus Pharmaceuticals, on Wednesday said: "We are gearing up to woo the US market with a focus on to supply finished dosage formulations. If the market demands, we may even set up a manufacturing facility there which would also help us to cater to the increasing demand from the Latin American market."

Zydus Cadila has a US Food and Drug Administration-approved manufacturing facility at Moraiya in Ahmedabad.

"While formulations would be our priority, Zydus Pharmaceuticals may consider introducing its over-the-counter products in the US," he said. Renner said, "We are expecting approval for 16-18 ANDAs to be filed by Zydus during the current financial year."