August 11 I 2019 I BUSINESS TODAYI 63
vaccines. Today, it has the largest portfolio of biologics
among all Indian companies. Its overall investment in
this is nearly `300 crore.
Zydus has one of the largest biologics manufactur-
ing plants in Asia for monoclonal antibodies (cloning
of cells for cancer cure) with a capacity of 11,000 litres,
when the nearest competitor’s capacity is less than
1,000 litres. It has launched 10 biosimilars and another
eight are under development. The plan is to launch at
least three molecules every two years.
The company developed Exemptia, the world’s first
biosimilar of Adalimumab, for treating inf lammatory
arthritis. “We have partnered with many companies to
sell in various geographies and my assessment is that
we can easily get $200-250 million annually from
these biologics within the next four years,” says Sharvil
Patel, who did his doctorate in pharmaceutical science.
Similarly, he is betting big on vaccines. Zydus’s Vac-
cine Technology Centres (VTCs), located in Catania,
Italy, and in Ahmedabad, have already developed 11 ap-
proved vaccines and another eight-nine are under devel-
opment. VTC, which developed Vaxif lu-4, India’s first
tetravalent inactivated inf luenza vaccine, is also devel-
ed annual growth rate (CAGR), it became the fourth
largest Indian drug company by revenues. However,
unlike the next generation of other drug companies,
Pankaj Patel’s son Sharvil Patel, the company’s MD,
also passionately pursued drug research. As a result of
the continued focus on research, the Ahmedabad-based
company came up with India’s first new chemical drug
as well as a slew of novel drug innovations. If things go
well, within a few years, Zydus may become India’s first
MNC to sell its own drugs in global markets.
Chasing New Cures
Currently, Zydus Cadila has 10 new chemical entities
and new biological entities (NBEs) in different stages
of development – an achievement no other Indian drug
company can boast of.
A good part of the company’s profits is being
ploughed back into research of new drugs and specialty
products and vaccines – about 10 per cent of profits
every year. Even though these form a small part of the
overall business, Zydus has big plans for them. About
18 years ago, Zydus was among the first to invest in
developing biosimilars (copycat of biotech drugs) and
ZYDUS
AT A GLANCE
FIRST OFF
THE BLOCK
In 2013, Zydus Cadila launched
Lipaglyn (Saroglitazar), India’s
first new chemical entity. It
developed a four mg once-a-day
pill that can simultaneously
control cholesterol and glucose
levels - a first of its kind drug for
Hypertriglycerdemia (elevated
triglyceride levels) and Diabetic
Dyslipidemia (high cholesterol in
diabetic patients).
Among top three in
sales in pain, oncology,
respiratory and
gynaecology in India
2nd company in the
world to develop a
typhoid conjugate
vaccine
1st Indian company to
develop a new chemical
entity (NCE) in-house
(Lipaglyn (Saroglitazar))
10-plus
NCEs/NBEs
in pipeline
20-plus biosimilar
products in pipeline
4th largest pharma
company in India
by revenue
1st in the
world to
develop
biosimilar of
Adalimumab
(Exemptia)
Approved and launched in India
Phase II trials on in the US for hypertriglycerdemia
Phase II in the US for NASH (non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis)
Phase II in the US for Lipodystrophy
Phase III in India for Type-2 diabetes
Current size of the product in India: `50 crore
Opportunity (if trials succeed and the drug reaches global
markets): $3-4 billion by 2025
7th largest pharma company in
the US by total prescription