NPIL Pharma Launches Dedicated Unit for API Innovation

CPhI Worldwide, Paris (Oct. 3)-NPIL Pharma (Mumbai, India, www.npilpharma.com) has formed a new dedicated unit, NPIL Innovations or NPIL(i), to focus on developing and applying new technologies used in process development and production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).

The new unit initially will focus on biocatalysis, chemocatalysis, and flow processing. This unit will include its catalyst-based racemization technology, “SCRAM,” which NPIL launched last month.

NPIL(i) will have a base at NPIL’s facilities in the United Kingdom and at its new research center in Mumbai. It initially will have a scientific and technical staff of roughly 25, aiming to grow to 50 within 18 months. NPIL (i) will be headed by Ian Grundy, previously sales director for NPIL Pharma (UK).

The formation of NPIL(i) is part of NPIL’s “global footprint” strategy of integrating manufacturing capability in India with acquired European and North American facilities involved in early-phase and commercial-scale production technologies.

This strategy has included a series of acquisitions and investments. In June 2006, it acquired Pfizer, Inc.’s (New York, NY, www.pfizer.com) API production and supply-chain facility in Morpeth, United Kingdom and in December 2005 it acquired the custom manufacturer Avecia Pharmaceuticals.  

With these moves, NPIL Pharma now has custom manufacturing revenues of more than $200 million and says it has plans to become one of the top three global players in pharmaceutical custom services.