42 BIOTalk
BioSpectrum | November 2017 | www . biospectrumindia . com
As India is second hub for the FDA approved products , we understand enormous opportunities of development in pharmaceutical / health care industry . As pharma industry is expanding at almost 18-20 % CAGR , we are also keen to expand our portfolio in this segment especially supply of varieties of ready prepared media .
media . Currently , we have two manufacturing units . We are upgrading those established units as well as setting up one more unit for ready prepared media to satisfy the increasing need of international market . Countries like Saudi Arabia and Siberia approached us for technical collaboration which we may consider .
What percentage of your sales revenue is being spent on R & D ? How many people are working at your R & D centre ? What kind of innovation the team has been working on now ?
Approximately 10 % of our sales revenue is devoted to R & D and we are planning to surge it to some extent to keep upgrading our technology and inventing novel products . We are also considering extension of our R & D activities directly in the hospitals . Our own R & D labs will be set up in different hospitals to process the samples in the hospitals immediately for faster diagnosis by saving the time . We have developed our own technology for diagnosis of different diseases like Sickle cell anemia , dengue , thalassemia etc . to serve the healthcare industry in a better way as Life is Precious for us . Regenerative medicine is looming area which involves a transitional research in tissue engineering and molecular biology using stem cells and primary cells . Similarly , Biosimilar and monoclonal antibodies ( mAbs ) production are also burgeoning segments . Supplying explicit media for regenerative research and chemically defined serum free media ( CDSFM ) for mAb production at affordable price is a major area of focus for us .
Are you launching any new product / s in next 6 months ? If yes in which area and how do you see the market opportunity for the same ?
Strength of HiMedia is R & D due to which HiMedia could flourish and possesses broad series of products in all the segments of Biosciences . Updating and upgrading ourselves through innovations is a constant process for us since four decades and that is why , we now have portfolio of around 4500 unique products . This approach sets us up in top three manufacturing companies in the world . Henceforth also , we will keep launching numerous new products not only in next 6 months , but persistently in the future . Recently HiMedia has ventured into hydroponics business and working aggressively in this sector . We have started consultancy services and supplying kits to various Universities . Hydroponic labs are being set up in several Universities for cultivation of hydroponic plants and products . Setting up hydroponics business at such a scale is unique venture of its kind in India .
At present HiMedia is amongst the top three brands in microbiology in the world . By when we can see it as the top brand in the world ?
We are currently at this position only due to urge for quality and excellent service provision . Today financial top positions are acquired by mergers and acquisitions . We are not in that rat race . Nevertheless , to answer your question I would humbly say within a span of next 5 years we shall be the top brand in the world . My directors , fellow scientists and other colleagues are striving strategically towards this goal . However , for certain novel products like HiCynth ; HiMedia is already documented as top brand with great global demand .
Do you see the competition for your range of products in the market ? If yes how do you wish to address it ?
Yes , there is always competition for our range of products . This competition is one of the driving force for further evolution of more innovative products . HiMedia principally defines “ Competition ” in two ways ; first with the brands available in the market and second with itself . We believe that , you grow when there is healthy competition and struggle for existence . Due to which our R & D team is always on toes and driven for constant innovations and quality . That is the cause , HiMedia scarcely patented products / techniques , so as to encourage other companies to manufacture similar range of products to compete with . HiMedia compete with self too , by enhancing product quality and consider this as an opportunity to become better than yesterday .
The company has clocked a revenue of Rs 395 crore for FY 2013 . What plans you have in place so that it will touch Rs 1000 crore ?
The overall CAGR for HiMedia has been 18 % since last five years . Growth in domestic segment has been 25 % since last three years . By maintaining and improving the quality of the products , discovering new products persistently , catering to the human kind at reasonable prices , we will positively reach Rs 1000 crore in 3-4 years .