Over the past 70 years, Pfizer has built a strong, comprehensive presence within India. Customer centricity and patient well-being are two core pillars of functioning for Pfizer India. Every decision is implemented with the thought, “How will this benefit our patients?”. Driven by this ambition and supported by our belief in science and innovation, we aim to help better the care offered to not just individual patients, but entire communities.
Marking a milestone in our journey to help advance healthcare in the country towards a brighter future we inaugurated Pfizer’s Global Drug Development Center at the IIT Madras Research Park, Chennai. This is our first such research centre in Asia, and one of our largest globally.
The inauguration was done in the presence of eminent personalities including S Aparna, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India; Dr J. Radhakrishnan, I.A.S., Principal Secretary to Govt. of Tamil Nadu (Health and Family Welfare Department Tamil Nadu); Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, President, IITM Research Park; Dr VG Somani, DCGI; and Prof V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras. Every one of the esteemed dignitaries expressed their unwavering support for our initiative.
How will this help?
Globally, we plan is to introduce 25 new therapies by 2025 across therapy areas, with a special focus on oncology and hospital products.
This center will focus on the development of both, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and finished dosage forms (FDFs) of differentiated products such as complex/value-added formulations, controlled-release dosage forms, device-combination products, lyophilized injections, powder-fill products, and ready-to-use formulations. The center will develop and support products in global markets and Pfizer’s manufacturing centers worldwide.
Based in India, the center is a part of a network of 12 global centers set up worldwide and will facilitate development of therapies for markets around the world. India can play a significant role in strengthening and diversifying global R&D capabilities, as well as supply chains.
This center is a significant move to bring critical research and development (R&D) capabilities under one roof. We chose the IIT Madras Research Park as it offers several advantages for the R&D work the centre will drive, especially proximity to the best of academia and leading young industry players and start-ups. This is an opportunity to establish truly one of the most advanced laboratories that Pfizer is setting up for R&D in these disciplines anywhere in the world, in Chennai and an opportunity to showcase the potential of R&D in the country.
This 61,000 sq ft facility employs 250+ scientists and professionals from a range of scientific disciplines including Formulation Scientists and Pharmacists, Analytical Scientists with expertise in process, analytical and formulation medicinal sciences, Life Science specialists such as Microbiologists and Biotechnologists, Chemical Engineers, Data Scientists, and Program Managers.
The Global Drug Development Centre reinforces Pfizer's interest and commitment to investing in India. It strengthens our capability to deliver new methods to address the health needs of patients around the world. It is a testament to our commitment to innovation, fostering breakthroughs, and introducing therapies and solutions that can transform patients’ lives and health journeys.