Japan biotech firm keen on JVs with Indian firms

By agencies   |   Tuesday, 26 April 2005, 19:30 IST
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BANGALORE:Medibic, a Japanese biotechnology company supporting genomic-based drug discovery, is keen on expanding its presence in India through more partnerships. The company also wants to further consolidate its existing partnership with the Bangalore-based Strand Genomics, a life sciences informatics company focused on software for drug discovery and development. Yasuhiro Hashimoto, President and CEO of MediBic, said, "We met several Indian companies and would take a view about final partnership at the appropriate time." He declined to give the investment figures for tie-ups. Japan has a huge potential for Indian companies, as it has the second largest `ethical' drugs (non-over-the counter) market after the U.S., he said. Hashimoto said that MediBic hopes to expand tie-ups with Indian companies to offer customized data analysis through bio-informatics solutions to Japanese pharma companies. "We have many clients who are interested in getting data on cell functions for drug discovery," he said.