Shasun Chemicals to set up new facilities in N. America

Mumbai: The Chennai-based Shasun Chemicals & Drugs, which is one of the largest producers of ibuprofen worldwide, is setting up a process development facility in New Jersey, US, to provide direct active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) development services in the pre-clinical and clinical trial stages.

Kevin Cook, director (operations), Shasun Pharma Solutions, UK, said, "The US facility will allow us to provide North American customers with a local service offering to compliment our existing sites in Europe and India."

Dr Michel Spagnol, chief technology officer of Shasun said, "The development also enhances our position as the leading chemistry services provider with both eastern and western facilities."

The company said the facility would further enhance and expand the company's current capacity to provide range of services from R&D to large-scale manufacturing and analytical developments. The operation would also help the company to expand the offering to existing clients and attract new customers with a broad range of expertise and technologies.

The first phase of the new facility would start operations from April 2008 and would create around 50 new skilled jobs. Full capacity would be achieved by October 2009.

Founded in 1976, Shasun is a leader in API and intermediate production for the pharmaceutical and biotech industry with its products being sold in over 40 countries across the world including all major regulated markets.