Himalaya, the Rs. 300-crore herbal healthcare firm, has drawn up plans to set up its new R&D center and manufacturing campus in Bangalore by December 2005 with an investment of Rs 165 crore. Company officials told this newspaper on Thursday the project, which will commence in June this year, will focus on conducting cutting-edge research to help the firm compete with the biggest pharma players of the world.

With the company growing at a fast clip, its facilty at Makali near Bangalore had become too cramped for comfort. Hence the company has decided to establish a second facility in Bidadi, in a sprawling campus, covering 200 acres of land.

MORE RESEARCH

Himalaya, which boasts of a research team comprising 80-odd scientists, has been adding at least two researchers every month in the last one year. The company’s Executive Director (Research & Technical Services), Dr. S.K.Mitra, said it was important for Himalaya to expand its infrastructure to keep pace with the developments. “The new facility will primarily cater to international markets,” he said.

Unlike allopathy, where the molecule structure does not vary, there could be a vast differentation in the herb, depending on the place, season & soil it is grown in. “Hence extensive tests are required to identify its properties,” company’s Senior Medical Advisor Dr. Rangesh Paramesh said.

With international standards becoming stringent, it has become important for companies to lift their research standards. According to Dr. Mitra, even countries like Slovakia and Romania have high standards for toxicity tests. “We need to gear up for these eventualities,” he said. “Hence, the new facility has become imperative.”

Himalaya is currently working on herbal solutions for malaria, cancer and tropical diseases, apart from promoting its personal care products which are being rolled out periodically. But even today Liv.52, its jaundice fighting pill, remains its flagship product.