Ranbaxy acquires Signature Pharma facility

Mumbai: Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd has acquired a liquid manufacturing facility from the New York-based Signature Pharmaceuticals Inc on an asset-purchase basis through its wholly-owned subsidiary Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc, USA.

This fully-automated manufacturing and packaging line facility with state-of-the-art testing and quality assurance capabilities will be the first liquid manufacturing unit of the company in the US.

The acquisition will also bring in advanced capabilities for research, development, manufacturing and distribution of controlled substances. This acquisition will be a strategic fit for its business in the US for the manufacture of certain liquid-based dosage forms that would enable in-house production and strengthen its liquid product pipeline.

This will result in cost savings with respect to the currently outsourced products and also exhibit and validation services for Ranbaxys products in the US.

In September 1995, Ranbaxy had acquired Ohm Laboratories, which provides advanced manufacturing capabilities and processes to create quality OTC-branded and generic products. It offers a comprehensive development scale-up and manufacturing of a diversified line of over-the-counter and Rx generic pharmaceuticals.

Ranbaxy Laboratories president (pharmaceuticals) Dr Brian Tempest says: Signatures acquisition provides a strategic platform to Ranbaxys US operations vis--vis liquid dosage forms. It also furthers Ranbaxys commitment to expand its US business.

Ranbaxy Laboratories, Indias largest pharmaceutical company, manufactures and markets branded generic pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. The companys continued focus on research and development has resulted in several approvals in developed markets and significant progress in new drug discovery research.

Ranbaxys foray into novel drug delivery systems has led to several proprietary platform technologies resulting in many products under developmental stages. The company sells its products in over 100 countries and has an expanding international portfolio of affiliates, joint ventures and alliances, ground operations in 25 countries and manufacturing operations in seven countries.