India starts making key API clavulanic acid

New Delhi: India has started producing blockbuster clavulanic acid for the first time in what could reduce its dependence on China for APIs. Mumbai-based Kinvan has started producing clavulanic acid that goes into making Augmentin, used to treat various bacterial infections, people in the know told ET.

Industry sources say the company has started producing small batches and will begin full scale production of 300 metric tons towards end of this year.

Kinvan will invest ₹447.17 crore to build 300 mt capacity plant to produce clavulanic acid.


Clavulanic acid also (key starting material) is used for manufacturing amoxyclav (combination of two medicines). Its most popular brand is Augmentin. "As of now we are largely dependent on China. With the initiative of the production-linked incentive scheme companies, we will see production of clavulanic acid and Pencillin G by the end of this year. Kinvan is in advanced stages and large scale fermentation is expected by the end of this year. It's a step in the right direction," a person in the know said.