French drug innovator Servier is partnering with home gamers to develop, manufacture and export formulations for the worldwide market, highlighting India’s rising position in world R&D.
The mid-sized pharmaceutical firm mentioned it goals to marry Indian experience in chemical formulations and ‘incremental innovation’ with its discovery prowess to hurry up drug growth and manufacturing for its world markets.
Whereas Servier, the second largest French drugmaker, has been manufacturing regionally in partnership with contract producers for the Indian market, the corporate introduced a €15 million funding to arrange a platform known as Gatinn to develop single-pill combos for cardiometabolic and venous ailments in partnership with choose contract growth and manufacturing organisations (CDMOs), the corporate’s world management mentioned on the launch of the platform on Tuesday. The primary product is predicted to be shipped out by October 2027, and the drugmaker tasks world gross sales of €500 million by 2030.
Servier plans to export single-pill combos or medicines that mix two or extra lively pharmaceutical elements (APIs)right into a single capsule to nations in areas comparable to Latin America, Asia, and Africa, the place the burden of cardiometabolic ailments is excessive.
“Within the context of single-pill combos or incremental improvements, there are two dimensions. There may be the molecule itself, after which how you set molecules collectively. And right here it’s fascinating to comply with the success of India by way of not a lot the molecule, however the means of India to search out revolutionary options to place molecules collectively in a manner that maybe is best than different components of the world,” Bradley Lloyd, managing director, APAC at Servier, advised Mint in an interview.
“We see India having an actual technological benefit in its means to search out revolutionary methods to place molecules collectively or to evolve formulations as a way to obtain both single capsule combos or new methods to ship the lively substance,” Lloyd mentioned.
Servier’s platform is predicted to have round 5 merchandise in growth by the tip of 2026, with roughly one new mixture added every year until 2030. Whereas the event and manufacturing will occur regionally, the APIs shall be imported from Servier’s manufacturing amenities.
“India was a marketplace for Servier, now India is turning into a hub for Servier,” mentioned Aurelien Breton, managing director, Servier India.
The concept behind creating single-pill combos for cardiovascular and metabolic ailments is that adherence to a number of capsules is a large drawback, mentioned Breton. These are additionally power circumstances with a rising incidence charge globally. “It is extra concerning the mass market or the most important inhabitants swimming pools of the world with power circumstances, so it is smart to construct on the SPCs,” he mentioned.
Servier is France’s second-largest pharma firm after Sanofiand ranks 35 within the world pecking order. Within the 2024-25 monetary yr, it posted revenues of €6.9 billion.
Price was a significant component in Servier’s resolution to decide on India for the Gatinn challenge. There have been a number of components they had been contemplating, together with high quality and pace, however “price was definitely a component the place India was extra beneficial,” versus Europe, mentioned Lloyd.
The agency, which has a powerful presence in cardiology and venous ailments, has been increasing its oncology portfolio in India. It’s also contemplating working oncology medical trials in India, the executives mentioned.
“I believe this displays the truth that India is maturing as a market, but it surely’s additionally maturing as a pharmacology or pharmaceutical ecosystem,” mentioned Lloyd.