Alembic to diversify into speicalty chemicals, biotechnology

Ahmedabad: Alembic Pharmaceuticals, the Vadodara-based pharma major, is in the process of finalising a major reorganisation plan. As per the recast plan it will diversify into speciality chemicals and biotechnology. It will also focus on its glass business.

Alembic — a diversified industrial house that has forayed into businesses like drugs and pharmaceuticals, hospitals, distilleries, consumer glass, engineering design and fabrication, packaging and publishing — now proposes to manufacture, import and export glass, glassware and other products related to the glass industry.

Say company sources: “In the speciality chemical business, Alembic could manufacture insecticides made from basic or intermediate organic chemicals or plants for home and farm use. We have already floated a special business unit to finalise plans for the chemical foray.“

The production of glass products can significantly bring down the company's operating costs. Alembic had recently hired the management consultancy firm Accenture to frame a blueprint to enhance performance and improve the efficiency of its existing operations, cost-rationalisation and supply-chain management.

In the pharma division, the company, which has expertise in both the API (active pharmaceutical ingredients) and the BPC (bulk pharmaceutical chemicals) segment, recently created a new division for cardiovascular and diabetic drugs.

“We are also looking at brand acquisitions in areas like cardiovascular and anti-infectives. The new business plans also include beefing up our presence in the over-the-counter business through acquisitions and in-house development,“ the sources add.