Merck may set up R&D lab in Hyderabad
“The company officials are in talks with the state government. They are interested in setting up the centre at ICICI Knowledge Park near the city,” an Andhra Pradesh industry department official said.
By TNN |
HYDERABAD: German pharma major Merck may be looking at setting up an R&D centre in Hyderabad. “The company officials are in talks with the state government. They are interested in setting up the centre at ICICI Knowledge Park near the city,” an Andhra Pradesh industry department official said.
Talking on the sidelines of BioAsia 2007, he said that initially Merck was evaluating the possibility of setting the centre in Pune. “However, considering the infrastructure facilities offered by the city, top officials from the company finally decided to zero in on Hyderabad. Besides, ICICI Knowledge Park already has many pharma companies on its campus,” he pointed out.
At the three-day conference, which concluded on February 11, accords were inked between various companies and industry bodies. The Federation of Asian Biotech Associations has signed a letter of intent with the Iran Biotechnology Council for knowledge sharing and technology transfer.
“We will act like a facilitator so that our members can look at joint venture partnership with Iranian body for R&D work and manufacturing. We will also look at setting up new ventures in the Middle-East,” said Dr BS Bajaj, secretary-general of the Federation of Asian Biotech Associations (Faba).
It is learnt that US-based Eli Lilly has also signed three letters of intent with Indian companies including Suven Life Sciences. The company already has an agreement with Suven to collaborate on the pre-clinical research of molecules in the therapeutic area of central nervous system.
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Ocimum Biosolutions has entered into an accord with a scientist for developing micro array chip on the medicinal plant Catheranthus. Southern Cross Biotechnology has also signed a LoI with Innotech Consulting Netherlands for marketing animal serum. Besides, the International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Crops (Icrsat) has signed an MoU with ITC for conducting agri-biotech research in crops like eucalyptus. As part of this project, ITC will set up an R&D centre at Icrisat campus.
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