The growth of the Indian generic market is driving demand for parenteral devices and this is now accompanied by rising quality standards. Helvoet Pharma believes this creates an opportunity for a company with an established reputation to set up a facility operating to international standards.
Currently there are two to three domestic companies producing components of a similar quality, Jean-Paul Thans, vice president, sales and marketing at Helvoet Pharma told in-PharmaTechnologist.
Despite this competition Thans believes Helvoet will capture a share of the market. Thans stated that Helvoet’s reputation as a reliable, global supplier and use of the same standards and equipment in its Indian, US and European plants will attract business.
When the site is operational in 2012 it will employ 30 to 50 people and manufacture a limited range of very standardised products for use by domestic companies. The site and product portfolio may be expanded in the future.
This expansion could add price sensitive components for exportation to the rest of the world, according to Thans. By adding this capacity Helvoet would be able to reduce the production costs of components used by companies in Europe, the US and Asia.
Construction work on the facility, which will be located near Pune in Maharashtra state in Western India, will start in the third quarter. The facility will be housed in a newly developed industrial zone with a secure energy supply, good transport links and access to trained personnel.
Helvoet currently does around €2m of business with companies operating in India but these products are mainly for re-exportation. The new facility will be its first in Asia.