Zydus Cadila and Mayne Pharma, an injectable specialty pharmaceuticals company based in Australia signed a joint venture agreement to set up a 50:50 joint venture company to manufacture generic injectable, cytotoxic (anti-cancer) medicines and active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) for global markets.
The two companies will share equally the investment in construction and validation costs of the new facility and will share in the profits of the joint venture. Both companies will also have equal representation on the JV's board of directors. The plant will manufacture both solution and freeze-dried products and have a maximum capacity of approximately 10-12 million vials per annum.
The new facility will be set up in Gujarat, India. Construction of the new facility began in the second quarter of 2005 and, following regulatory approval, the first set of products is expected to be launched in fiscal year 2008. The products will be marketed globally by both companies in different territories.
Initially, the joint venture will focus on a defined range of generic, injectable cytotoxic medicines where there is an opportunity to capitalise on both the development and manufacturing benefits available in India, as well as capturing potential vertical integration benefits that will come with the internal production of the API. Over time, both companies will assess opportunities to manufacture other generic injectable cytotoxic products at this facility.
The joint venture allows Mayne to diversify its manufacturing capabilities, improve its speed to market and address future capacity requirements. This plant will almost double Mayne Pharma's cytotoxic manufacturing capabilities and assist with early development and launch of products at patent expiry in key target markets. Zydus Cadila, which has forged several partnerships and alliances, gains a partner with expertise in manufacturing and marketing of injectable oncology products and other specialty products in the global market.
