Rs 1,200 cr Serum India push for first biotech SEZ in Pune

Pharma companies setting up units at the SEZ will be able to leverage on the cost factor because of the tax concessions in place with exemptions on stamp duty, VAT and octroi. Not only can India hope to get cheaper drugs, pharma companies can produce for exports at competitive prices.

Serum, whose measles or DTP (diptheria, tetanus, pertussis) vaccines are administered to one out of two children in the developing world, now wants a footprint in developed countries. ‘‘The area we are looking at is the anti-cancer segment.” Giving details of the new oncology drug being developed by Serum, Dr S V Kapre, executive director, said: ‘‘These anti-cancer drugs will be less toxic, because we are using an innovative way of delivering it… we are encapsulating the chemical which opens up only when it comes in contact with cancer cells.’’ The animal testing is going on now. ‘‘It will take three to four years to come out with the product,’’ added Kapre.

Poonawalla said all the new projects will be handled out of the SEZ. ‘‘We are hoping to get US FDA approval in a year-and-a-half.’’ About one billion doses of various vaccines are likely to be produced on an annual basis from this SEZ. While a few units will begin production in the next three-five months, the project will be completed by 2010.