Sanofi begins work on Rs 460-cr insulin facility in Hyderabad

Shantha Biotechnics, a Sanofi company, has begun construction work for its Rs 460 crore insulin manufacturing facility in in Muppireddipalli (Telangana). The company will manufacture Insuman, a human insulin product from Sanofi’s range of diabetes treatments, at the facility, which is expected to be fully operational by 2019. This will be Sanofi’s second plant aside from the company’s existing Insuman manufacturing plant in Frankfurt.
 
Speaking on the occasion, Telangana Chief Minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao, said, “I am delighted that Sanofi has decided to manufacture Insuman insulin in Telangana state, so that it helps the 65 million diabetics in India have better access to affordable insulin. We are shortly going to launch a new industrial policy that will fast track projects and make Telangana one of the most favoured destinations, for investments, in the world.”
 
Dr Harish Iyer, CEO, Shantha Biotechnics, said, “The new high technology facility will benefit from our existing biotechnology production expertise. This state-of-the-art facility will have the capability to ramp up manufacturing volumes to 60 million Insuman cartridges per year, within two to three years of commercial manufacturing.”
 
While Sanofi’s Frankfurt facility will continue to manufacture the human insulin, Insuman, Shantha Biotechnics’ Rs 460 crore facility will contribute towards addressing the local demand for Insuman.
 
Dr Shailesh Ayyangar, managing director - India and vice president - South Asia, Sanofi said “The technology transfer and a successful collaborative effort within the Sanofi Group, underline our commitment to investing and ‘making in India’.”