In an exclusive interview to The Financial Express, Cadila Pharmaceuticals Chairman IA Modi said that though there were no plans at present to forge alliances or joint ventures with foreign companies within the country since "I have enough in my bag for the moment", he indicated that the company was looking at opportunities of "offering joint ventures in other countries."

On being asked exactly which countries Cadila was eyeing for its future expansion plans, Modi said this included countries where the company already had export activities including Nigeria, Kenya and Russia. However, he maintained that the facilities could be set up "both in developing and developed countries including the US."

Speaking about the company's expansion plans within the country, Modisaid a detailed blueprint for expansion for the next five years had already been formulated. "We plan to launch at least 6 to 8 new introductions in the market for the next five years," he said.

Meanwhile, the bulk drug manufacturing facility of Cadila at Ankleshwar has been awarded the ISO 9002 certification recently. According to the Cadila Chairman, "the ISO 9002 certification to this bulk drug manufacturing facility will go a long way in achieving the company's corporate goal of becoming a significant global player."

The facility, which was undertaken at a cost of Rs 10 crore is likely to be completed by March 2000 and international engineering consultants Humphreys & Glascos have been roped in for the expansion project. It encompasses one of the highest capacities in the country to produce loratidine (anti-histaminic), glibenclamide (anti-diabetic) and chloro hexidine base (disinfectant). In addition, the Enthambutol plant of the company at Ankleshwar is the only facility approved by the USFDA (USFederal Drug Authority). Fluoxetine (anti-depressant) is another major product which is currently manufactured in this plant for which an application has been submitted with the Drug Master File (DMF) and Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) with the USFDA.

The Ankleshwar unit is spread on a 42,000 sq metre plot in the GIDC chemicals zone of which a mere 7,200 sq metres is the constructed area at present leaving considerable scope for expansion. The company is setting up two multipurpose plants at this location during the current fiscal. An estimated 75 per cent of the bulk drugs produced at this plant are exported to developed countries like the US and Canada while the remaining 25 per cent are for captive and domestic consumption. Ten new products in the areas of anti-hipertensives, anti-depressants and anti-arthritis are slated for commercial production within a year.

Cadila's Rs 60 crore formulations facility coming up in Dholka near Ahmedabad is also nearing completion and according to thecompany's chairman, it is likely to be commissioned around June 2000.