The Hindu Business Line : Scottish Biomedical eyeing collaborations with Indian cos

With India increasingly becoming an attractive destination for research and development (R&D) in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space, pre-clinical drug discovery service organisation, Scottish Biomedical, is looking for alliances here.

While it has already worked collaboratively with Glenmark and Torrent Pharmaceuticals, Mr Simon Bury, Business Development Director, Scottish Biomedical, said that he will hold discussions with various Indian pharma biggies such as Ranbaxy Laboratories, Dr Reddy's Ltd, Sun Pharmaceuticals, and Wockhardt amongst others.

Important destination

"India is emerging as an important destination for research and we would like to identify opportunities to work with domestic pharmaceutical companies.

"We are focusing on India as we see good potential for growth," Mr Bury said.

Scottish Biomedical offers specialised services in early stage collaborations wherein it helps companies to identify and optimise new molecules.

While the company is not keen on getting into the products per se, it helps them carry programmes through to the development candidate stage.

"We do not get involved in toxicology studies or conduct clinical trials, but help them develop the candidate," said Mr Bury.

The company also does its own research and development (R&D) through its team of scientists.

"We either transfer our research to a client for a fee at an early stage or ask the client to keep the collaboration going with our company continuing the research," he added.

However, in both cases, the intellectual property rights (IPR) remain with the client. This, he said, makes it attractive for the client.

"Since we do not have any outside investors and are a private, profitable and self-funded institution, we do not have pressures on return of investment or revenues," Mr Bury said.

Research-related services

Meanwhile, companies offering different research related services are looking for opportunities in India too. Mr James Anderson, Trade & Investment, Life Sciences Team - Asia, Scottish Development International said, "There are other companies offering expertise in toxicology studies, first and second phase clinical trials and so on that are looking for opportunities in India."

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