Mumbai-based Wockhardt is known primarily as a maker of generics and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) - indeed earlier this week it predicted that plans to launch 15 copycat drugs in the US this year will be its key growth driver.
However, while generics will remain its main focus Wockhardt has also been building in the contract manufacturing space in recent years under the leadership of managing director Murtaza Khorakiwala and chairman Habil Khorakiwala.
Outsourcing-pharma.com spoke with company associate Vice President, Business Development - Contract Services Tom Salus at Interphex earlier this year, who set these efforts in the context of Wockhardt’s wider strategy.
“Like many other major pharmaceutical companies we have capacity available in our human capital – research and development – and our facilities and with that we look for a way to optimise the utilisation of that knowhow” Salus said, explaining that this capacity ranges from solid dosages forms to extended release drugs and injectables.
Fragmented space
But while improved capacity utilisation is clearly a driver for Wockhardt, the firm also believes its dual Pharma-CMO status gives it an advantage over ‘pure play’ contractors.
“I think we all realise that the contract manufacturing space is a fragmented industry, what is unique in the value-added proposition that Wockhardt has is that we are not a pure play CMO… we can use the investments that have already been made in our company for [our customer projects]."