As more and more MNCs are entering the Indian pharmaceuticals market we cannot afford to sit idle. We need to upgrade our manufacturing facilities and have state-of-art technologies for the production of quality products so that we can meet the challenges posed by MNCs.

In the post-TRIPS era, Indian drug manufacturers are realigning their survival strategies. With more and more MNCs entering the domestic market and keeping the product patent regime ahead, domestic manufacturers are drawing up strategies for their sustainable growth and survival.

The company is also in the final stages of negotiations with foreign pharma companies for licensing agreements. "As many more MNCs are entering the Indian pharmaceuticals market we cannot afford to sit idle. We need to upgrade our manufacturing facilities and have state-of-art technologies for the production of quality products so that we can meet the challenges posed by MNCs. So, for these, our R&D facility will also have to be strengthened," said K.P. Mundhra, Executive Director, Albert David.

The company will be finalizing the exact location of the new factory to be set up at Kolkata soon. The cost of the project estimated at Rs 40 crore, will be funded by the company's own earnings and partly by different financial institutions. Albert David has multicentric manufacturing plants located in Kolkata, Ghaziabad and Mandideep near Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. The manufacturing units of the company have been accorded WHO-GMP accredition. The bulk drug manufacturing facility has been approved by the US FDA.

Albert David, ranked 58^th out of 16,000 plus pharma companies, is a part of the Kothari Group of companies. "We manufacture and market a wide range of formulations, large volume parentals and medical disposables. We would concentrate of the formulations market," informed Mundhra.

Some of the company's products are regularly exported to different countries including the United States and Europe. At present, the company operates in major therapeutic segments like analgesics, herbal drugs, anti-bacterials, nutrition, anti-ulcerants, neurotropics, placental extracts, anxiolytics, small and large volume parentals, dermatologicals and disposable syringes and needles. Albert David is a leader in human placental extract therapy. The new facility, which is likely to commence its operations by 2002, is to manufacture oral liquids, tablets, ointments and some bulk drugs.