Company Watch

Zydus and Nycomed expand scope of JV models

Our News Bureau - Mumbai

Zydus Nycomed, the 50:50 joint venture company set up by Zydus Cadila and Nycomed, will now be an API manufacturing hub, with Nycomed planning to transfer its current API production from facilities at Linz (Austria) and Singen (Germany) to Zydus Nycomed in India over a period of four years. This would result in manufacture of 18 APIs. The new development comes in the wake of both companies deciding to expand the scope of the existing joint venture agreement and signing a letter of agreement to this effect. Zydus Nycomed that has emerged as one of the most successful JV models is also a benchmark for high quality production at the most cost competitive prices. The joint venture company was set up in 1999 to manufacture key starting materials for the production of Pantoprazole at the state-of-the-art plant at Navi Mumbai.

The agreement between the two companies marks an important step in enhancing the competitiveness of Zydus Nycomed. By leveraging its expertise to address concerns of both costs and quality excellence, Zydus Nycomed will be a key sourcing base for Nycomed's global API supplies.

Speaking on the newly expanded agreement, Pankaj R Patel, Chairman and Managing Director, Zydus Cadila, said, "The need to create a centre of excellence that sets the highest global standards in quality and service has been the very basis of this partnership. The new avenue that we have opened up strengthens this premise and will add a new dimension to the mutually beneficial partnership that exists between the two companies.

Barthold Piening, Nycomed's Executive Vice President-Operations, emph-asises the importance of a competitive API production: "World over, the chemical API production is under increasing cost pressure. We will focus on the pharmaceutical production, because this is an area for future innovation where we can utilise all our know-how to compete." Piening added, "It is a pleasure for us to expand the successful joint venture with Zydus Cadila. This will enable us to continue API production at the highest quality level with competitive costs."