Intas Biopharmaceuticals

Infobox Company
company_name = Intas Biopharmaceuticals Ltd.
company_
company_type = Public Limited
foundation = 2006
location = Ahmedabad, India
key_people = Dr. Urmish Chudgar,MD
industry = Biotechnology
products = Neukine: GCSF/Filgrastim, Erykine: Erytheropioetin, Neupeg: PEG-GCSF, Intalfa: Interferon alfa2b
num_employees = 410 (2008)
homepage = http://www.intasbiopharma.co.in

Intas Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. is an Indian biotechnology company headquartered in Ahmedabad, India. Located in the Moraiya,it is one of the leading biosimilar product manufacturer in Asia.

As an independent biopharmaceutical company of the [http://www.intaspharma.com/pharmaceuticals_aboutus_group_companies.html Intas Group] , the company has fully integrated biopharmaceutical operations with R&D facility and an EU-GMP certified bio-pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. [cite news |title=Intas mfg unit gets EU-GMP certification| date= 13 June 2007 | publisher= The Economic Times|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Healthcare__Biotech/Biotech/Intas_mfg_unit_gets_EU-GMP_certification/rssarticleshow/2118921.cms ]

Intas Biopharma is also actively pursuing the Contract Research and Manufacturing Services(CRAMS) line of business. To expand its CRAMS business, Intas Biopharmaceuticals Ltd., in June 2008, acquired a US biotechnology corporation, [http://www.biologicspd.com/index.html Biologics Process Development] Incorporated (BPD), based in Poway, California. [cite news |title=India's Intas acquires U.S.' Biologics Process Development| date= 20 June 2008 | publisher= Forbes.com |url=http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/06/20/afx5136873.html ]

History

Intas Biopharma was set up in year 2000, as an independent biotechnology division of [http://www.intaspharma.com/ Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd.] , a mid-sized generic formulation manufacturer located in Ahmedabad, India.

The biotechnology division was demerged as an independent company Intas Biopharmaceutcials Ltd. in Sep 2006. The ownership remained with the Chudgar family.

Kotak Private Equity Group invested $10 Million equity in the company in late 2007. Till that time company had invested Rupees 1 billion ($25 Million) in its facility. [cite news |title= Kotak to invest $10 m in Intas Biopharma| date= 12 Oct 2007 | publisher=The Hindu Business Line|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/10/12/stories/2007101252610200.htm ]

The company faced EU-GMP (Good manufacturing practice) audit in Dec 2006, in order to seek approval of clinical trial of its biosimilar Filgrastim in Europe and was certified as EU-GMP compliant in April 2007, becoming the first company in India to receive such certification for biologics facility.

Products

Intas Biopharma has focused on biosimilars and has generic version of 3 of the top 10 blockbuster in its product basket. It launched its first product Neukine injection (Filgrastim)/ GCSF in July 2004.

Erythropoietin injection under the brand name of Erykine, for anemia due to critical illness like chemotherapy,was introduced in Aug 2005 and Interferon α2b under the brand name of Intalfa was launched in April 2007.

Intas Biopharma also considers itself first company in the world after the innovator, to introduce Pegylated version of GCSF (PEG-GCSF,under the brand name of Neupeg. Neupeg was launched in Aug 2007. The PEG (polyethylene glycol) form has a much longer half-life, reducing the necessity of daily injections.

Collaborations & Partnerships

Kwizda, Austria and Intas Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. jointly completed phase I clinical trial study of Neukine, biosimilar form of recombinant GCSF in April 2008, paving way towards start of Phase III Clinical trials in Europe.The study was a single-dose, randomised, double blind, two-way crossover trial and used an active control. With this study, Intas Biopharmaceuticals became first Indian company to enter the regulated biotherapeutic market. [cite news |title=Intas and Kwizda complete phase I clinical trial| date= April 2008 | publisher=Express Pharma| url=http://www.expresspharmaonline.com/20080430/market04.shtml ]

Intas Biopharmaceuticals Ltd signed an agreement with Canadian drug major Apotex Inc, in May 2008, to co-develop and market the low-cost version of a biotech cancer medicine filgrastim (G-CSF) in North America and Europe. [cite news |title=Intas, Apotex to develop cancer drug| date= may 2008 | publisher=BusinessStandard | url=http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c_online.php?leftnm=10&bKey
]

References

External links

* [http://www.intasbiopharma.co.in/ Intas Biopharmaceuticals Ltd: Official website]
* [http://www.intaspharma.com/ Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd.]
* [http://www.biologicspd.com/index.html Biologics Process Development Inc.]
* [http://www.contractpharma.com/csd/company/Intas%20Biopharmaceuticals%20Ltd. Profile at Contract Service Directory, Contract Pharma USA]
* [http://www.kotak.com/Kotak_GroupSite/groupcos/private_equity.htm Kotak Private Equity Group]

News Articles

* [http://www.pressemeldinger.no/read.asp?RecNo=48943] Biosimilar G-CSF: Cooperation on Three Continents : April 2008
* [http://www.expresspharmaonline.com/20080615/gogujarat06.shtml] Paragon of success : June 2008