Pharma major Abbott India, along with Biocon's subsidiary Syngene, has set up an R&D centre for developing nutrition products for India.
Syngene, a contract research company will work with Abbott to develop science-based, affordable nutrition products for maternal and child nutrition and diabetes care for the Indian market. Syngene and Abbott have a five-year contract arrangement for the research.
Indian nutrition requirements are different from those in other parts of the world, and the centre will initially focus on tweaking existing products for India, said Mr John Landgraf - Executive Vice-President, Global Nutrition, Abbott Laboratories. The company, for instance, will adapt to local tastes and texture and form of products.
Syngene, currently, has 27 scientists working at the R&D centre and will recruit another 25 by the end of the year, said Mr Peter Bains - Director, Syngene. The centre expects to bring out its first set of products in about 12 months.
Going forward, the company will also develop new products for the Indian market, integrating Indian healthcare concepts like ayurveda, herbal medicine and yoga, Mr Bains added.
Syngene has been working with Abbott on “fragmented and contract research” for a decade now, and is now moving to integrated end-to-end research, Ms Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Founder, Chairman & Managing Director, Biocon Group, pointed out.
Apart from partnering with Syngene for the centre, Mr Robert Miller, Vice-President, Global R&D and Scientific Affairs, Abbott Nutrition, said that the company is looking for partnerships with universities “to engage young talent to drive innovation”.