Torrent Pharma to invest Rs 475 cr in Sikkim, Dahej

Ahmedabad November 15, 2009



Torrent Pharmaceuticals is looking at regulated drug markets, like the US, for selling products from its upcoming formulations facility in the Dahej special economic zone (SEZ), while its other formulations manufacturing facility in Sikkim is expected to come on stream by October 2010.

The Dahej SEZ is a 50:50 joint venture between the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) and ONGC. Already, 28 companies have finalised their plans for setting up manufacturing units in the area. “We will invest around Rs 350 crore in the Dahej SEZ and have started work on land development there. The acquisition process is complete. The facility will take around three to three-and-a-half years to become operational,” Chief Operating Officer Sanjay Dalal said.

Meanwhile, the company’s Sikkim project is on track and will start commercial production with an annual capacity of 3.50 billion tablets from the middle of the next financial year. The company has invested around Rs 125 crore in the six-acre facility. Torrent also has seven discovery projects in the pipeline. It has filed 336 patents for NCEs (new chemical entities) in all major markets worldwide, of which 144 patents have been granted so far.

Torrent’s manufacturing plant at Chhatral has a capacity to manufacture approximately 3 billion tablets, capsules and vials and 15,000 kg of Bulk Drugs/API (active pharmaceutical ingredients).