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Bangalore:
In a world dominated by allopathic multinationals and their smart
marketing strategies, a little-known Indian company in this tech
hub has made inroads into the global healthcare sector, focusing
on research and development (R&D) in herbal medicines.
"Our mission has been to unlock the mystery of herbs and extract
their goodness through biotechnology," Sami Labs founder Muhammed
Majeed told IANS here.
"Today, we export to global firms across the world standardised
herbal extracts, nutritional ingredients, cosmeceuticals,
probiotics (micro-organisms), fine and specialty chemical, oral
dosage and topical formulations that are developed and produced in
our labs and six factories near Bangalore and in Hyderabad."
The company is projected to have a sales revenue of over Rs.200
crore in last fiscal (2012-13) as against Rs.169 crore in previous
fiscal (2011-12), with 80 percent from exports to the US, Europe,
African and Gulf and Asia-Pacific regions.
As a multi-disciplinary R&D-based company, Sami has developed a
range of patented products using native medicinal plants, herbs,
tissues, minerals and natural ingredients grown on organic soil.
Among its innovations are pepper extract (Bioperine) to increase
the bioavailability of nutritional products and turmeric extract (Curcumin
C3 complex) as an effective anti-oxidant.
"We have also developed anti-glaucoma drug from a native herb -
Coleus Forskholii, organic selenium and Forslean for effective
weight management," Sami chief executive V.G. Nair said.
Clinical trials are underway for treating psoriasis, human
leukemia, and various types of cancer, Alzheimer's disease, asthma
and diabetes.
Armed with a dozen molecules and US and international 80 patents,
Sami also manufactures a range of phytochemicals, cosmeceutical
actives, specialty chemicals and specialised drug intermediates
used in nutritional, cosmetic, pharma and food industries.
"Sabinsa's formulation facility at Utah in the US caters to our
global markets and enables us to undertake contract manufacturing
for multinationals," Majeed said.
He said absence of organised R&D and lack of patronage had
hampered the growth of the Indian systems of medicines based on
ayurveda, unani and naturopathy.
"It's regrettable that the world of herbs remains unexplored and
their potential untapped in the land of their origin (India) while
allopathic experts in the US and Europe discover their immense
value."
Majeed said his over two-decade-old Indian firm carved a niche in
the global pharma sector by adopting "best practices, transparency
and ethical values that have been built at our parent company
Sabinsa Corporation, I founded in the US over 25 years ago as a
research-oriented marketing firm".
A doctorate (Ph.D) in industrial pharmacy, Majeed had worked in
the R&D divisions of US pharma majors like Pfizer, Carter Wallace
and Paco Research.
(Fakir Balaji can be contacted at fakirchand@gmail.com)
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