Page 150 - CW E-Magazine (10-10-2023)

Pharmaceuticals Pharmaceuticals

ENABLING GROWTH DIVESTMENT

Government launches policy and scheme for R&D in Viatris sells Indian API operations to IQuest

pharma, medtech Enterprises

Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Viatris, the US-based fi rm formed by ments to divest its women’s healthcare
Mandaviya recently launched the the merger between Mylan and Pfi zer’s business, its API business in India and
‘National Policy on Research and Upjohn unit in 2020, has sold two of its commercialisation rights in certain
Development and Innovation in businesses in India for $1.2-bn as part of non-core markets that were acquired
Pharma-MedTech Sector in India’. a global exercise to exit non-core busi- as part of the Upjohn transaction; the
He also introduced the scheme for the nesses. gross proceeds to the company from
‘Promotion of Research and Innovation all divestitures under the terms of the
in the Pharma MedTech Sector’ (PRIP). Viatris said it sold the Indian active agreements are up to $6.94-bn.
pharmaceutical ingredients (API) business fi cant part of the team at IQuest Enter-
The Minister said the announcement to IQuest Enterprises, a Hyderabad-based prises was involved with some of the Viatris sold its women’s healthcare
is “an infl ection point in the journey of fi rm owned by Matrix Laboratories current facilities when it was operating business to Insud Pharma of Spain.
Atmanirbharta in the pharma & medi- founder Mr. Nimmagadda Prasad. The as part of Matrix Labs which was
cal devices sector”. “We need to trans- deal marks Mr. Prasad’s re-entry into the divested in 2006 to Mylan. Subsequently Viatris is known for its off-patent
form Indian pharma & medtech sectors API business that he sold to Mylan in in 2020, Mylan was merged with another blockbusters, such as the cholesterol
from a cost-based to a value-based & 2006. IQuest emerged as the preferred entity to be renamed as Viatris. treatment drug Lipitor, erectile dys-
innovation-based industry,” he added. investor following a global competitive function drug Viagra and antidepres-
Scheme details cal entities, complex generics including bid. Viatris’ API business in India in- sant Zoloft.
“Multinational companies spend The Rs. 5,000-crore PRIP scheme biosimilars, medical devices, stem cell cludes three manufacturing sites and
20-25% of their profi ts in research and to promote R&D in the pharmaceuti- therapy, orphan drugs and antimicro- “We are excited about our largest a research lab in Hyderabad, three In February 2022, Viatris sold its
innovation while for Indian companies cals and medical technology sectors bial resistance. investment in the pharmaceutical sector manufacturing sites in Visakhapatnam local biosimilar business to Biocon Bio-
the average is around 10%. Till the time includes a programme to fund more till date. Our investment comes at an and third-party API sales, Viatris said logics for $3.35-bn as part of a plan to
we don’t come out with research-led than Rs. 1,100-crore in nine pharma Investments made by the companies opportune time when India is drawing in a statement. The company will re- exit various businesses in Europe and
innovative products, we cannot lead the companies for carrying out research in on the projects at the institutes would signifi cant attention amongst the global tain some research and development other markets, including India. At that
segment globally,” said Mr. Mandaviya, six priority areas in collaboration with be backed up with fi nancial support pharma industry. It is also a happy (R&D) capabilities in API. The women’s time, Viatris said it had identifi ed non-
who is also in charge of the Depart- academic institutions. at the rate of 35% of the total cost in- homecoming, in more ways than one, healthcare business, which primarily core opportunities, including the Bio-
ment of Pharmaceuticals. He noted that curred or Rs. 125-crore whichever is for some of us who have been part specializes in oral and injectable con- con Biologics deal, that could generate
the scheme will focus on transforming In addition, the scheme will entail less, on milestone basis over a period of the journey over the last two de- traceptives, includes two manufactur- around $9-bn in pre-tax proceeds. The
India into a high-volume, high-value spending Rs. 3,000-crore to commer- of fi ve years. cades,” Mr. Gunupati Swathi Reddy, ing facilities in Gujarat, one each in company said it has achieved its goal
player, meeting the quality, accessibi- cialise 30 R&D products and opening Executive Director, IQuest Enterprises, Ahmedabad and Sarigam. of substantially simplifying the organi-
lity, and affordability goals. “The up seven Centres of Excellences on Another component of the scheme said in a release. IQuest Enterprises is a sation by increasing focus on areas
policy will help to create an ecosystem pharmaceutical research in existing is to expedite the market launching and multi-sector investment company with While IQuest preferred not to dis- with the greatest potential to accelerate
of skills and capacities including the National Institutes for Pharmaceutical large-scale commercialization of pro- a proven track record of pharmaceuti- close the deal size on record, Viatris growth, patient impact and shareholder
academia and the private sectors, and Education and Research (NIPERs). ducts or technologies in priority areas cal and healthcare investments. A signi- said it entered into defi nitive agree- value.
give impetus to new talent among the having high commercial potential or
youth through start-ups,” he said. The nine established pharma com- societal impact by providing a fi nancial Cipla launches drone delivery of critical medicines
panies willing to carry out research in assistance of up to Rs. 100-crore for
“We need to do mass production of six priority areas will be selected by 30 projects in six priority areas. in Himachal Pradesh
our pharmaceutical products and med- the government to implement the pro-
ical devices. For this, we have made gramme. The fi rms will use the research As many as 125 start-ups, MSME Cipla has launched drone-based The use of drones will support on- this service to inaccessible and hilly
three bulk drug parks in Himachal infrastructure available at national in- or small-scale units will also be provided deliveries of its critical medicines for time delivery of the company’s medi- terrains such as Uttarakhand and the
Pradesh, Vizag and Gujarat and four stitutes but in exchange they will have with a funding of Rs. 1-crore each if hospitals in Himachal Pradesh, in part- cines to chemists and clinics in remote Northeastern regions of the country.
medical device parks in Himachal to provide training to a selected number they are working on projects in any of nership with Skye Air Mobility. The areas, while minimising risks includ- Cipla said its inaugural phase of the
Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh of students and scientists of the insti- the six priority areas. Setting up of the medicines included cardiac, respiratory, ing temperature-linked issues affect- drone deliveries covered approxi-
and Tamil Nadu, which will help in tutes working on the identifi ed areas. seven Centres of Excellence will cost and other essential chronic therapies, ing cold chain products, it explained. mately 50 kilometres distance in under
strengthening this sector,” he added. The six priority areas are new chemi- Rs. 700-crore. Cipla said. The company is planning to extend 25 minutes.

150 Chemical Weekly October 10, 2023 Chemical Weekly October 10, 2023 151

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