BANGALORE
– based Sami Labs, a 100 per export oriented unit plans
to set up a 100 acre research demonstration farm at an investment
of around Rs.3 crore by the end of this year.
According
to Dr. Muhammed Majeed, Managing Director Sami Labs, the company
also plans to enhance its biotech activities which it commenced
last year and is looking at drug development from natural
products and herbal formulations in big way.
"At
present, Sami Labs is in the advanced stage of discussion
with MNCs for strategic alliance in the areas of biotechnology
and nurtaceuticals," he added.
As
a first step towards this, the company has tied up the Neeja
Pharmaceuticals, Canada for the development of a new generation
antibiotic which is awaiting patent clearance in India.
Also
Sami Labs plans to set up biotech incubator with seed capital
for promising biotech entrepreneurs in Bangalore.
"This
will be a boon to small startups which are not able to commence
operations for want of funds", said Dr. Majeed.
Sami
Labs, which manufacturers and markets plant extracts for pharmaceutical
intermediates, has allocated Rs.50 crore for biotech activities
besides other related drug development operations to produce
probotics, an oil eating bacteria. The company has also identified
a new molecule which increases skin permeability.
The
company has set up four manufacturing plants in Karnataka
at Singasandara, Kunigal, Mysore and at Nelamangala (biotech
centre) at an investment of Rs.35 crore.
Anil Urs