Focus Is On Enhancing And Strengthening Our R&d Capabilities Of Drug Innovation: Wockhardt

Drug firm Wockhardt said it will continue to strengthen its R&D capabilities to develop innovative and technologically advanced medicines.

Addressing the shareholders in the company's annual report, Wockhardt Managing Director Murtaza Khorakiwala said the firm has set up three world-class, multi-disciplinary R&D facilities in India, the UK and the US, which are engaged in studies and experiments to develop new drugs and novel drug delivery systems for tomorrow.

Wockhardt Recalls 100,000 Bottles of Hypertension Drug in US
More than 1 lakh bottles of its hypertension drug metoprolol has been recalled from the US market by Wockhardt.

"We believe that the future lies in innovation, which will lead to quantum leaps in growth. We are determined to continue to focus on enhancing and strengthening our R&D capabilities," Khorakiwala said.

"The R&D efforts comprise of over 850 scientists, research associates and technicians focusing on generics and new drug discovery programme concentrating on anti-infectives and recombinant bio-pharmaceuticals," he added.

Wockhardt has increased its investment in R&D from 9.3 percent of total sales in FY14 at Rs 450 crore to 11.5 percent of total sales in FY15 at Rs 515 crore. The company said R&D efforts has resulted into the company building its intellectual property (IP) base by filing 267 patents and winning 82 patents in FY15, taking cumulative patents filed to 2,268 and patents won to 341.

Deficiencies at a Manufacturing Plant Forces UK Regulator to Recall 16 Drugs by Wockhardt
In a blow to Indian pharmaceutical firm Wockhardt, Britain’s healthcare regulator has initiated a recall for 16 drugs manufactured by the company.

Wockhardt's new drug discovery programme also won QIDP (Qualified Infections Disease Product) status by US FDA for three new breakthrough drugs under development, making it the first pharma company in the world to hold this distinction.

These anti-infective drugs will have an accelerated development trajectory to cater to critical and unmet needs in the antibiotics space, Khorakiwala said.

US FDA Approves Generic Version of Wockhardt�s Drug to Treat Parkinson�s Disease
Wockhardt Ltd got US FDA approval to market the generic version of Ropinirole extended release tablets for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

The company is looking to continue its focus on building domestic business, sustaining business in developed markets and exploring new markets globally.

"To meet unmet medical needs across the world, we will continue to focus on building our domestic business, sustaining business in developed markets and exploring new markets globally," Khorakiwala said.

Wockhardt Gets FDA Approval for Marketing Generic Aricept
Wockhardt has revealed that it has got a tentative approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to market its generic copy of Aricept tablets

With manufacturing and R&D facilities in India, the UK and the US, Wockhardt caters to global markets across India, US, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, he added.

In FY 15, its international business accounted for 72 percent of total sales, with the domestic business contributing 28 percent, registering a growth of 24 percent over FY14."Wockhardt has become the largest Indian generics company in the UK and largest generic pharma player in Ireland," he said.

In the domestic market too, the company's five brands are amongst the top 300 brands and holds the fourth position in pain management segment.

The company said as a result of creation of robust quality and manufacturing operations, UK MHRA lifted the statement of non-compliance from the Chikalthana plant at Aurangabad and granted restricted Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certificate after their inspection.

The US FDA team inspected the new quality control systems with automation features at Aurangabad facility.

The company believes that all the outstanding issues at its plants pertaining to US FDA will be resolved in reasonable period of time.

Source-PTI