Indigene Pharmaceuticals (Indigene) and Tata Industries (TIL) announced today that they have entered into a strategic alliance and that TIL has taken a significant equity stake in Indigene.

Indigene Pharmaceuticals, a rapidly growing biopharmaceutical company with its operations in Boston (US), Europe and India, is focused on developing and delivering molecular combination-based products for global prescription and consumer healthcare markets. TIL is a Tata Group company that manages the Group’s new initiatives and promoted companies. Tata Group is India's most respected and the largest multinational business conglomerate.

Speaking on the occasion, Ratan N Tata, Chairman, TIL, said, "The Tata Group has been actively seeking new opportunities in knowledge-based industries. Biotechnology and biopharmaceutical areas offer great potential in creating value and improving the quality of life for people around the world. We see a bright future in the pharmaceutical industry and Indigene, with its unique approach to product development, technology and a highly reputed global team, is well equipped to meet the challenges of the future. We are pleased to partner with Indigene in its quest to develop and deliver innovative products and pursue new opportunities in healthcare."

Founded by Dr M Vaman Rao in 2002, Indigene Pharmaceuticals has rapidly developed into a new-age pharma company with a strategic focus to develop and deliver innovative, safe and effective molecular combination-based healthcare products. Indigene has leveraged its strengths in the US, Europe and India to develop and launch a series of innovative products for both prescription (Rx) and the consumer healthcare (CHC) markets.

Indigene is set to launch four CHC products in large self-medication areas in the US initially followed by India and other geographies. The brands include RelaxaneTM (for stress), MemorylTM (for maintenance of memory), Pre-TenseTM (for nervous tension) and LAXelleTM (gentle cramp-free laxative for women). Indigene anticipates that Indian consumers will get to see the first of its products in 2007.

Dr M Vaman Rao, chairman and CEO, Indigene Pharmaceuticals, said, "We have built up significant strengths in our global team and partners, knowledge base, technology, intellectual property, innovative products and product pipeline. Our strategic alliance with the Tatas enables us to leverage the Group’s reputation and vision in nurturing the growth phase of ventures and creating fundamentally strong organizations. The Tatas are an emerging global force and symbolic of a new corporate India, combining fundamental social values with progressive business practices. Their unique standing in the corporate world will further strengthen Indigene's position as it continues to grow."

Having trademarked a new healthcare product category called "Multiceutics", Indigene Pharmaceuticals has been developing molecular combinations that are optimised to work simultaneously on multiple pathways associated with diseases and symptoms of the human body leading to smarter medicines. "This unique product development approach is different from the classic industry approach of using a single molecule to target a single pathway," added Dr. Rao.

Kishor A Chaukar, Tata Industries’ managing director, said, "Indigene has made significant advances in bringing together its technology, knowledge base and product and consumer-focused business model to make its endeavour commercially viable in a short span of just four years. In fact, the company is poised to launch its first wave of branded products in the US markets. Indigene is set to make rapid strides in the near future and TIL is committed to supporting Indigene in this venture."

Indigene Pharmaceuticals has established an alliance with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for developing leads in selected disease areas. Dr R A Mashelkar, director general, CSIR and secretary, DSIR, Government of India, elaborating on the alliance, said, "Healthcare providers and patients worldwide are seeking safer and cost-effective treatment options. Indigene, with its unique product development and commercialization approach for global markets, is well positioned to accelerate CSIR’s efforts to translate its initial leads into useful products. The pharma industry is facing challenges including spiralling drug prices, shrinking new product pipelines, and unmet medical needs. To address this, we require the new-age pharma approach that Indigene is building. We are looking forward to this alliance with Indigene."

Explaining the reasons for launching the brands initially in the US, Dr. Rao commented that, "Indigene is a good example of the way global companies of tomorrow will evolve. With globalisation diffusing the national and international economic and trade barriers, smart companies of the future will need to use the entire globe as their co-ordinates. Indigene is a company promoted by a global entrepreneur from India. Having operations in the US, Europe and India with a global team and partners, its products developed and manufactured across all three locations, Indigene will be launching products initially in the most competitive pharma markets of the world." Dr Rao also explained that the key investors in the Company are the Promoters, the Tata Group and the Sun Group.