GE Healthcare has announced that Dr. Reddy鈥檚 Laboratories will be installing India鈥檚 first-ever FlexFactory, a single-use manufacturing platform to expand the biologics production capacity at its facility in Hyderabad, India.
FlexFactory will make Dr. Reddy鈥檚 biopharmaceutical manufacturing set-up more flexible and efficient, strengthening the company鈥檚 position in the global biosimilars market and allowing Dr. Reddy鈥檚 to continue increasing patient access across the world for biotech-based therapies.
The new FlexFactory will help Dr. Reddy鈥檚 increase its capacity to meet both the expected growth of its currently marketed biosimilars, as well as support the launch of a significant portfolio of new biosimilar products in the years to come.
With FlexFactory, Dr. Reddy鈥檚 will be able to increase its manufacturing capacity swiftly as the overall project set-up timeline for FlexFactory is typically nine to 12 months.
FlexFactory enables Dr. Reddy鈥檚 transition from stainless steel to single-use technologies that bring enhanced flexibility and efficiency into their manufacturing set-up. Single-use technologies facilitate multi-product manufacturing and improve productivity by increasing the number of lots manufactured, as the change over time between products can be reduced by 50% or more.
Head of biologics at Dr. Reddy鈥檚 Laboratories Cartikeya Reddy said: 鈥淲e are delighted to be working with GE Healthcare to expand our biologics manufacturing footprint. We strongly believe that the FlexFactory platform from GE will enable us to rapidly ramp-up capacity and serve more patients in both emerging markets and highly regulated markets.鈥�
Country manager of South Asia at GE Healthcare Life Sciences Milind Palsule said: 鈥淲e are pleased to partner with Dr. Reddy鈥檚 in their efforts to increase the availability and affordability of biopharmaceuticals globally by bringing single-use, flexible manufacturing capacity to its facility in Hyderabad. India today has one of the fastest growing biopharma sectors in the world and we are keen to support this development and the production capability of Indian pharma players with the latest biopharma technology and know-how.鈥�
About FlexFactory
GE Healthcare鈥檚 FlexFactory is a centrally automation integrated, flexible biomanufacturing platform. It allows manufacturers to quickly and seamlessly establish biopharmaceutical manufacturing capacity within an existing building or as part of a new facility.
FlexFactory is designed to help manufacturers such as Dr. Reddy鈥檚 to rapidly respond to regional healthcare needs to quickly bring lifesaving treatments to the global market.
This unique manufacturing platform is currently in operation throughout the world including Asia, Europe, and the US, offering a consistent platform for collaboration or transplant to other facilities. GE Healthcare鈥檚 Fast Trak Center has sites across the world including Bangalore. It will be providing training on FlexFactory equipment and technologies for Dr. Reddy鈥檚 personnel.
FlexFactory is primarily comprised of single-use technologies and associated process hardware and integrated with automation and control components for start-to-finish manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals.
Depending on current processes, FlexFactory can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 75% and water and energy usage by approximately 80%.
Dr. Reddy鈥檚 Laboratories is an integrated pharmaceutical company, committed to providing affordable and innovative medicines for healthier lives. Through its pharmaceutical services and active ingredients; global generics; and proprietary products businesses, Dr. Reddy鈥檚 offers a portfolio of products and services including active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), custom pharmaceutical services, generics, biosimilars, and differentiated formulations.
The company鈥檚 major therapeutic areas of focus are gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, diabetology, oncology, pain management, and dermatology. Dr. Reddy鈥檚 operates in markets worldwide and its major markets include the US, India, Russia, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, and Europe.