BioSpectrumIndia - the business of biotech

Rank 21-50 Companies

Hester Biosciences Limited is a veterinary vaccines manufacturing company, which has ISO 9001-2000 and GMP certifications. The product range includes 11 types of live and 28 types of inactivated poultry vaccines. Propagation of micro-organisms for manufacturing of the vaccines is done through tissue culture, through specific pathogen free embryos and through fermentation processes. Having achieved a turnover of Rs 32.60 crore in 2007-08, Hester claims to have the second largest market share for poultry vaccines in India. Hester imports one vaccine from the US. It also exports some of its vaccines to three countries and registration are pending in over 10 countries. Besides marketing its own vaccines, Hester represents other companies like Merial USA for poultry vaccines; Biopharm, Czech Republic, for poultry vaccines; Synbiotics, USA, for animal diagnostic kits for the Indian market.

Cadila Pharmaceuticals (CPL) is a key research-based, tech-savvy pharmaceutical company focusing on areas like formulations, new drug discovery, active pharmaceutical ingredients, analytical research, phytochemistry, biotechnology, plant tissue culture, biosynthesis, genetic engineering, vaccines and immunoglobulins. Over the last few years, CPL has established a strong R&D base in biotechnology and developed working relations with key R&D institutes in the country. CPL has its own research facility at Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore. About 20 products including conventional and recombinant vaccines, anti-cancer biotherapeutics, diagnostics using recombinant antigens and natural thrombolites with high market potential are in its biotechnology basket. Cadila has developed Immuvac, a potent immunomodulator for the first time in the world. Sodium Hyaluronate, is another biotech product developed on the basis of technology obtained from Center for Biochemical Technology, Delhi.

JK Agri Genetics Ltd (JKAL) was established in 1989 with its headquarters at Hyderabad. The biotechnology division of the company is engaged in R&D, production, processing and marketing of hybrid seeds of sorghum, pearl millet, maize, cotton, rice, sunflower, tomato, okra and hot pepper.
JKAL has invested extensively in biotechnology programs and has collaborations with several national and international research institutions and agricultural universities to harness biotechnology for crop improvement. The company has developed a range of superior hybrids with Bt gene and other novel genes that fulfills farmers’ aspirations. A team of 15 scientists are currently working on the application of DNA markers such as RFLP, AFLP, SSR and ISSR, agrobacterium and biolistic mediated transformation technology in various crops using novel genes and application of in-vitro culture.

Maps India is a producer and exporter of industrial enzymes. With over 150 employees, sophisticated production plant and a dedicated R&D center, Maps India has become a key player in enzymes and microorganisms. A team of 30 scientists is involved in R&D activities at Maps India. Maps produces a broad range of enzymes and microorganisms that include amylases, proteases, cellulases, xylanase, glucoamylase, pectinase, catalase and phytase, which are used for industrial purposes. With a complex product portfolio of over 60 products, a sales network that covers 20 countries and products for more than 10 different industries, Maps provides biotech solutions to improve industrial performance and quality. Maps is investing Rs 10 crore in Gujarat to expand its expansion.

Suven Life Sciences is a collaborative research partner (CRP) in drug discovery for global pharma companies since 2006. The company is also focusing on contract research and manufacturing services (CRAMS) since 1995 and drug discovery and development support services (DDDSS) since 2005. Suven is engaged in discovering new chemical entities in central nervous system (CNS) therapeutic areas including Alzheimer’s, cognitive impairment, dementia, depression, Parkinson’s disease and obesity which are at various phases of preclinical and clinical development. The company has recently undergone US FDA inspection at their intermediate/active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) facility in Suryapet, Andhra Pradesh. The company’s revenues from DDDSS stood at Rs 21.03 crore.

Varda Biotech is a technology and knowledge-based enterprise, offering integrated services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. It engages in high-end collaboration for the products and services that enhance the capability and productivity performances of its customers and business associates. Varda offers an ultra pure and highly thermostable recombinant Taq DNA Polymerase that has been isolated from recombinant E.coli. Varda provides custom service for clients requiring custom made peptides for research use, which are of either linear sequence or modified ones. Varda has received the ISO 9001:2000 certificate. It has the technical expertise to produce and deliver quality antibodies for life science research community. The company has launched educational biotechnology kits under the brand name Bio-Knowledge Kit and has alliance with global players for product association and representation in India too.

Celestial Labs has been supporting pharma, bio-pharma and biotech manufacturing with customized IT solutions and contract research. The company is also involved in R&D, commercial production and marketing of enzymes and nutraceuticals. Celestial Labs is setting up a biotechnology facility at Genome Valley in Hyderabad to manufacture its own drug molecules, industrial enzymes and contract research activities. The business plan of Celestial Labs is essentially based on the production and supply of the biotechnological products which have very significant industrial implications, especially in both pharma and biopharmaceutical sectors. Celestial Labs has been engaged in production of custom peptides for last five years. The acquisition of Bioconcept, an advanced facility for automated equipment, has establishing itself as a reliable source of contract research services on custom peptide synthesis.

Shreya Group started its operation in Moscow, Russia, where Shreya Corporation, the parent company, was established in 1995. Once a one-man trading company, Shreya is a marketing and distribution company in Russia. Shreya Group has interests in both pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products in key therapeutic segments. Shreya Life Sciences, the Indian arm of Shreya Group, started its operations in India in 2001 by acquiring Rallis India Ltd, a TATA Group company. In 2003, Shreya acquired the domestic pharma business of Plethico Pharmaceuticals Ltd, with a view to achieve a full-fledged national presence. Some of the products in human insulin introduced by Shreya in India include, Recosulin-M30 40 I.U, Recosulin-M30 100 I.U, Recosulin-M50 100 I.U,Recosulin-M50 40 I.U, Recosulin-N 100 I.U, Recosulin-N 40 I.U, Recosulin-R 100 I.U and Recosulin-R 40 I.U.

Zytex (India) Pvt Ltd is engaged in marketing of a broad range of biotechnological products. Zytex believes that the product research should be backed by application development. Hence it set up an application lab in 1997 to support the customers and also to develop products from the bench scale to the customer rapidly. Based on research conducted at its center, Zytex is now in the process of setting up a new production facility for a range of therapeutic enzymes and proteins. Its research laboratory is well equipped and manned with qualified professionals. Zytex has also set up an ISO 9001:2000 certified manufacturing unit. Zytex markets a broad range of biotechnological products that are unique and are specifically demanded by customers. Zytex has strong distribution network in India and also in Asia/South East Asia.

Bhat Bio-tech India specializes in the design development, manufacture and marketing of diagnostic devices for tests like pregnancy, HIV, hepatitis, malaria, dengue, chikungunya, syphlis, TB, cardiac markers, dry chemistry, biochemistry, hematology, immunology and ELISA test used in the analysis of body fluids in human. The company has registered revenue of Rs 12.10 crore in FY09. Bhat Bio-tech has recently got the technology transfer from Defence Research & Development Establishment (DRDE) for manufacturing rapid test for toxin (ricin). This is an immunochromatography-based test which will detect the ricin as low as 50ng/ml in the sample. The company has launched the rapid test for the detection of IgM antibodies for chikungunya virus in human serum or plasma and also launched the AIDSCAN HIV-1/2 Trispot Test based on immunoconcentration principle and uses human serum or plasma and identifies HIV-1 and HIV-2 separately.

Multiplex Biotech has clocked revenues of Rs 12 crore in fiscal year 2008-09 as against Rs 15 crore in 2007-08. The increased revenue in 2007-08 was a result of a bulk order placement from Andaman and Nicobar which contributed about Rs 5 crore in the last fiscal. Multiplex is promoted by Dr GP Shetty, an entrepreneur having vast experience in the field of manufacturing and marketing of agricultural products such as multimicronutrient fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, insecticides etc. The company has an unit at Nelamangala which is manufacturing wide range of agro-based biotech products which are used for the growth, development and to get more yields in field crops, fruit crops, plantation crops, horticultural crops etc.

ABL Biotechnologies Limited (ABL), based in Chennai, is a pioneer in harnessing the biodiversity of the Indian marine environment. ABL has been working on identification and commercial extraction of bio-chemicals, predominantly from microbes, that have far reaching applications as nutritional, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and industrial intermediates. The microbial metabolites Laboratory at Chennai works on evaluating new sources of biochemicals from marine organisms. ABL has been conducting research on polysaccharides, essential fatty acids, natural pigments, tracers and tags with considerable success. Present focus includes work on pharmaceuticals like anti-bacterials and anti-virals, enzymes, bio-molecular materials, bio-monitors and diagnostics, bio-pesticides, bioremediation and aquaculture. ABL’s efforts are focused on the enormous potential of Indian biodiversity for the production of new tools to both fight as well as prevent disease.

Metahelix Life Sciences is an agricultural biotechnology company focused on developing traits and technologies for crop protection and improved productivity. Metahelix markets hybrid seeds by its wholly-owned subsidiary seeds business, Dhaanya Seeds. Metahelix has developed two versions of Bt cotton and a Bt rice hybrid that controls rice yellow stem borer (YSB) using the Bt based Cry1Ac gene. The company’s biotechnology capability includes all the aspects of gene mining, development, molecular biology, crop transformation, phenotyping, assaying and trait development. The company’s research initiatives include developing hybrid seeds of rice, maize, cotton (Bt), millet, sunflower, sorghum, tomato, okra, hot pepper, melons. and research and development of biotech traits like insect protection, virus protection and fungal disease protection. The company currently employs 230 people and plans to hire another 40 by next year.

Zenotech Laboratories is a Hyderabad-based biopharmaceutical company which develops new biological entities in the areas of cancer and neurology. The company has initiated target identification and validation programs using gene and protein based technologies. This brings together proprietary technologies in the identification of cell surface proteins and receptors as candidate drug targets. Zenotech also develops and manufactures generic biopharmaceuticals and also offers comprehensive services for generating and characterizing recombinant proteins. The company provides a full range of services from cloning a gene, expression in microbial or mammalian systems, process development and generation of milligram to gram quantities of pure recombinant proteins. The company also offers functional, validated assays in both cell-based and cell-free formats for use in drug discovery.

Excel Industries Ltd primarily manufactures chemicals for industrial and agricultural needs. The business divisions of Excel include agri, chemical, and environment and biotech. The environment and biotech division has developed biodynamic products and processes for tackling environment and biotech problems. Excel’s activities include sanitization, bioconversion, bioremediation and bioaugmentation. The environment and biotech division has two product categories namely agricultural biotech products and environment biotech products. The agricultural biotech products make extensive use of naturally occurring microbes such as bacteria and fungi. The products are broadly classified under the categories of soil enrichers and biopesticides, and the division makes extensive use of naturally occurring microbes that helps in the aerobic decomposition of organic matter in its various forms such as agricultural and food waste, animal waste that includes fats and proteins.