Page 139 - CW E-Magazine (29-4-2025)

Top Stories Pharmaceuticals

use in profi les, fi lms or calendering, and price surge in 2021-22 triggered re- LICENCING DEAL
wires & cables are set to grow. investments as net margins hit historical
highs. Alluding to the high price vola- Biocon Biologics gets US market approval for Yesafi li
‘Indian CPVC market one of the tility in caustic soda over the past few
fastest growing’ years, he said the days of cheap caustic Biocon Biologics Ltd. (BBL), the fi rst-to-fi le an interchangeable biosimi-
Mr. Maulik Patel, CMD, Epigral Ltd., soda are over. In the 2025-2029 period, biosimilars company and subsidiary lar to Eylea, Yesafi li affi rms our
estimated the global CPVC market at caustic soda will see robust demand of Biocon, has announced a licence scientifi c strength and marks our strategic
455,000-tonnes with India accounting for growth, he said and added, “Slow GDP agreement with US-based biotech fi rm, entry into ophthalmology, expanding
21% of the global capacity at 93,000-tpa. growth will shift balance from chlorine Regeneron, to commercialise Yesafi li, our footprint in the US and advanc-
“The Indian CPVC market is one of the to caustic soda”.
Mr. Anil Jain fastest growing markets with a CAGR of a drug used to treat ophthalmological ing our mission to increase access
recyclability and recycling rates,” he 12% in the past fi ve years. It is expected to conditions. The agreement allows the to life-changing treatments,” said
India’s emergence as a global hub for
emphasised. grow to 50% of global capacity by FY27. PVC and CPVC was strongly endorsed company to launch the product in the Mr. Shreehas Tambe, CEO & Manag-
There is lot of untapped potential in non- by international industry heads. “India’s US in the second half of 2026 or earlier, ing Director of Biocon Biologics Ltd.
‘Build a positive public opinion’ plumbing applications like fi re sprinklers in certain circumstances.
Mr. Ajit Singh, Chairman, ACG and industrial end uses,” he said. commitment to innovation and sustain- and visual impairment due to myopic Last year, the company also signed
Group, also underlined the challenge ability in the vinyl sector is truly com- The companies executed the settle- choroidal neovascularisation (myopic a settlement agreement with Janssen to
being faced by the PVC industry with mendable,” said Mr. Jim Coulston, Chief ment agreement to dismiss the pending CNV). It is a biosimilar to its reference commercialise ‘Bmab 1200’, a biosimi-
Executive Offi cer, Vinyl Council of
regards to the marketing campaign for Australia. “We recognise India’s pivotal role appeal at the United States Court of product Eylea (afl ibercept). lar of Stelara, used for the treatment of
PVC-free products. “The industry needs Appeals for the Federal Circuit (US- psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative
to address this issue by engaging with in advancing sustainable practices within CAFC) and the pending litigation at For the approval of its commercial colitis, plaque psoriasis and psoriatic
the vinyl industry,” noted Ms. Aiñe
the media and build a positive public the US District Court for the Northern usage, a comprehensive package of arthritis.
opinion,” he advised. Curran, President & CEO, Vinyl Institute
of Canada. “Hosting the world’s largest District of West Virginia, Clarksburg analytical, non-clinical and clinical
PVC business summit highlights India’s Division. data was conducted which showed that The company has brought nine bio-
“India will remain a market of interest
and great potential in the midst of ongoing dedication to growth and innovation Yesafi li has similarities in quality, similars from its pipeline of 20 pro-
across the global vinyl value chain,” said
troubled times,” said Mr. Anil Jain, Vice Mr. Ignacio Torras Yesafi li is used to treat several safety and effi cacy to Eylea. ducts into major markets such as the
Chairman & CEO, Jain Irrigation Systems ‘Real estate crisis has pressurised Mr. Ned Monroe, President & CEO, ophthalmology conditions such as neo- US, Europe, Australia, Canada, and
The Vinyl Institute.
Ltd., noting that India’s growth is primarily demand in China’ vascular (wet AMD) age-related macular “This settlement clears the path Japan. Earlier in April, the company
driven by domestic consumption. Mr. Ignacio Torras, President & CEO, Business sessions at the conference degeneration, visual impairment due to for Biocon Biologics to be among the received approval for Jobevne, a can-
Tricon Energy, said China, which leads focused on future-ready technologies, macular oedema secondary to retinal fi rst to bring a reliable, high-quality cer treatment drug which became the
“Majority of PVC will go into piping the global PVC market growth, now vein occlusion, visual impairment due afl ibercept biosimilar to patients and company’s fourth oncology biosimilar
applications as at current prices, it is the accounts for around 50% of global capa- sustainable development, and digital to diabetic macular oedema (DME) healthcare providers in the US. As the in the US.
most cost-effective material for that city. With construction consuming 60% of transformation, while panel discussions
application. Various pro-consumption global PVC output, the real estate crisis in explored next-gen solutions and circular PROJECT UPDATE
policies of the government will aid the China has pressurised demand. General economy models. Various conference
growth of this sector, and it could be weakness in the global housing sector has tracks explored vinyl industry market Sigachi gets eco nod for Dahej SEZ facility
a rocking next fi ve years for the PVC further exacerbated the situation. How- dynamics, demand-supply trends, and Sigachi Industries Ltd., the Hyderabad- inert, non-reactive, free-fl owing and semi-regulated markets,” the company
sector,” he declared. ever, the Indian construction industry is India’s heavy reliance on imports, besides based pharma excipient specialist, versatile nature of MCC has varied said in a press note.
exploring the evolution and future of
expanding rapidly driven by growing PVC pipes and fi ttings. has received Environmental Clearance applications in the pharmaceutical, food,
‘Trade defi cit will still exist’ urbanisation, he pointed out. Speaking
Mr. Unmesh Nayak, President – Poly- about the caustic soda sector, Mr. Torres (EC) from the State Environment nutraceuticals and cosmetic industries. Commenting on the development,
mer Chain, Reliance Industries Ltd., noted said its versatile applications spread over Experts also spoke on technological Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Mr. Amit Raj Sinha, Managing Direc-
that even as new PVC capacities are more than 20 end-use areas will drive advancements across extrusion, mixing, Gujarat for its upcoming greenfi eld The new facility will have an in- tor and CEO of Sigachi Industries said,
expected to be added in India over 2026 growth. Further growth will be driven by and moulding in PVC processing and manufacturing facility at Dahej SEZ, stalled capacity of 3,120 mt/month “This is more than a capacity addition –
to 2028, the trade defi cit will still exist. the energy transition initiatives globally continued evolution of PVC towards Bharuch, Gujarat. The company said across categories like cellulose- and it is a pivotal enabler of our next growth
“Due to oversupply situation globally where caustic soda would be in demand a more sustainable future. New and the site development and execution starch-based specialised excipients, cycle. The Dahej 2 unit strengthens our
and availability of cheaper imports, for EV battery manufacturing. “Growing emerging applications of PVC across activities will start immediately. among others. integrated manufacturing capabilities,
India could become a dumping ground caustic soda demand will keep PVC pharmaceuticals, green building, and augments supply resilience for global
for PVC,” he surmised. market competitive,” he said. calendered fi lms were also discussed. Sigachi Industries is engaged in the “The product portfolio at the new customers, and positions Sigachi to capi-
Industry leaders also presented innova- manufacturing of microcrystalline cellu- facility will be tailored to pharmaceu- talise on the accelerating demand for
Speaking about the future demand ‘Days of cheap caustic soda over’ tions in stabilisers designed for CPVC, lose (MCC), a polymer widely used as tical, nutraceutical, and food-grade ap- quality excipients and specialty ingre-
prospects for PVC in India, he said be- Mr. Bernard Law, Editor, Chlor- O-PVC, and other advanced additive excipient in making fi nished dosages plications — tapping into high-margin, dients across North America, Europe,
sides the primary application in piping, its alkali Asia, Argus Media, said chlor-alkali solutions. in the pharmaceutical industry. The fast-growing segments in regulated and and Asia-Pacifi c.”

138 Chemical Weekly April 29, 2025 Chemical Weekly April 29, 2025 139

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