THE INDIAN ADVANTAGE

Abstract

BIG PHARMACEUTICAL FIRMS that need to quickly get a few dozen chemists to work on a specific, well-defined research project have long known that they can turn to any of India's numerous contract research companies. But in the past two years, the country's research service providers have been undertaking far more significant drug discovery work for foreign clients—work that involves sharing sensitive data. Eli Lilly & Co., for example, has licensed a patented drug that has yet to be launched in the U.S. or anywhere else to Mumbai-based Nicholas Piramal. GlaxoSmithKline has asked New Delhi's Ranbaxy Laboratories to work on lead compounds until the second round of clinical trials is completed. And Bangalore-based Syngene is building and will operate a 400-scientist R&D center for Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS). Most large drug companies are now paying a lot of attention to external alliances as one of the strategic drivers to increase the productivity of their R&D, says ...