Latest news with #GaneshSambasivam
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
a day ago
- Business
- Business Standard
CDMOs gear up for peptide boom amid rising demand for weight-loss drugs
As global demand for next-generation weight-loss and diabetes therapeutics surges, India's contract development and manufacturing organisations (CDMOs) are strategically positioning themselves to capture a bigger share of the peptide market, particularly in anticipation of key patent expiries such as that of semaglutide—a blockbuster GLP-1 receptor agonist. India is poised to play a critical role in the global manufacturing of GLP-1 drugs, driven by soaring demand for therapies like semaglutide and tirzepatide. The GLP-1 market is projected to exceed $150 billion by 2030. India's peptide CDMO market, currently estimated at around $80 million, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14 per cent until 2030. Though the country currently accounts for just 3 per cent of the global peptide CDMO space—valued at $190 billion—the growth momentum is unmistakable, according to Nilaya Varma, Co-founder and Group CEO of Primus Partners. Top Indian players in the space include Glenmark, Cipla, Divi's Laboratories, Themis Medicare, Peptomer Therapeutics, Syngene International, and Sai Life Sciences. Semaglutide patent expiry fuels strategic activity Semaglutide, the active ingredient in drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, is owned and produced by Novo Nordisk and is set to go off-patent in India in March 2026. Leading pharmaceutical companies, including Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Sun Pharma, Cipla, Mankind Pharma, Natco Pharma, Lupin, and Biocon, are preparing to launch drugs in this category. These companies are investing in R&D, manufacturing capacity, and collaborations to compete in this rapidly growing market. Anthem Biosciences is experiencing a surge in inquiries for peptide active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), including those related to weight loss. 'Semaglutide can be produced through total synthesis or biosynthetic routes. Very few companies in India can manage biosynthetic production—and we are one of them,' said Ganesh Sambasivam, Promoter and Chief Scientific Officer at Anthem. While he declined to confirm whether semaglutide is in active production at Anthem, he hinted that it may be among the peptides currently in development. Syngene highlights technical edge in peptide trials Jayashree Aiyar, Chief Scientific Officer at Syngene International, sees opportunities not just in manufacturing, but also in preclinical and clinical development. 'We've already supported preclinical studies on semaglutide and recently helped a global pharma company with a bioequivalence study using pre-filled pens,' Aiyar said. These studies included developing and validating sensitive LC-MS/MS methods to measure semaglutide plasma levels—a significant technical challenge for peptides. Syngene's case study on semaglutide demonstrates the rigorous planning and execution required for clinical bioequivalence trials involving peptides. With gastrointestinal side effects common among test subjects, the company had to implement robust risk management and continuous patient support mechanisms. On the analytical front, it overcame complex challenges like autosampler carryover and low detection limits through custom-developed chromatography and mass spectrometry protocols. 'While we are not currently manufacturing GLP-1 APIs, we are well-equipped with peptide scale-up and fill–finish capabilities. We continue to invest in technologies to meet future market needs,' Aiyar added. Production and compliance challenges persist However, peptide manufacturing comes with its own set of challenges. 'There are production hurdles involving the availability of protected amino acids, coupling reagents, and advanced purification protocols, particularly for bulk APIs,' Varma noted. These challenges, combined with high utility costs and stringent environmental controls, add pressure to meet international compliance standards. Schemes such as the 2024 Production Linked Incentive (PLI) and Greenfield Bulk Drug Park initiatives are expected to ease some of these bottlenecks. While some CDMOs are already entrenched in the space, others are evaluating the landscape. Kashmik Formulations, for instance, is not currently working on semaglutide or related APIs, nor has it received client inquiries. However, the company sees the patent expiry of semaglutide as a potential inflection point. 'We're open to collaborations with larger players who can provide validated processes,' the company said in a statement. Diabetes burden drives urgency for scalable solutions The spike in demand is closely linked to a global epidemic of lifestyle diseases. Arushi Jain, Director at Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals, underscores this urgency. 'Over 100 million Indians are living with diabetes, underlining the need for scalable therapeutic solutions that address root causes such as obesity.' Akums is actively tracking developments in weight-loss APIs. As patents for semaglutide and similar molecules expire, Indian CDMOs are gearing up for a new wave of growth. Equipped with scientific expertise, evolving infrastructure, and an appetite for collaboration, the Indian peptide manufacturing ecosystem is emerging as a vital player in the global fight against obesity and metabolic diseases.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Thinking of investing in Anthem Biosciences IPO? Know key risks, strengths
Anthem Biosciences IPO: Contract research, development, and manufacturing organisation (CRDMO) Anthem Biosciences is set to launch its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on Monday, July 14, 2025. The public issue is entirely an Offer for Sale (OFS), with promoters and existing shareholders divesting up to 59.6 million equity shares, aggregating to approximately ₹3,395 crore. The public issue is entirely an Offer for Sale (OFS), with promoters and existing shareholders divesting up to 59.6 million equity shares, aggregating to approximately ₹3,395 crore. From the promoter group, Ganesh Sambasivam and K Ravindra Chandrappa are among those participating in the OFS. Viridity Tone LLP, Portsmouth Technologies LLC, and Malay J. Barua are among the shareholders divesting their stakes through the Anthem Biosciences IPO. Anthem Biosciences has set the price band for the IPO at ₹540 to ₹570 per share. The minimum application size has been set at 26 shares per lot. The issue will open for subscription on July 14 and remain available until July 16. The company's shares are tentatively scheduled to make their D-Street debut on July 21, 2025. It is worth noting that Anthem Biosciences will not receive any proceeds from the IPO. All the funds raised will go directly to the selling shareholders, after accounting for offer-related expenses and applicable taxes, which will be borne by the respective sellers. As investors await the opening of Anthem Biosciences IPO, here are the key strengths and risks outlined in its Red Herring Prospectus (RHP) that every investor should be aware of: Key strengths of Anthem Biosciences Strong global customer base with long-term relationships: As of March 31, 2025, Anthem Biosciences had more than 550 customers across both its CRDMO and specialty ingredients businesses, spread over more than 44 countries, including the United States, European countries, and Japan. Many of these customers have long-standing relationships with the company. According to the F&S Report, Anthem Biosciences has the highest number of customers among its assessed Indian peers as of March 2025. Market-leading fermentation capacity: The company has the largest fermentation capacity among Indian CRDMO companies, with a 142 kL capacity as of March 31, 2025. Following the completion of its expansion activities by the first half of Fiscal 2026, Anthem Biosciences' fermentation capacity is expected to reach 182 kL—more than six times the fermentation capacity of the second-largest assessed player in the industry, according to the F&S Report. Diversified specialty ingredients portfolio: Anthem Biosciences also maintains a wide specialty ingredients portfolio and is well-positioned to capitalise on the large market opportunity for niche specialty ingredients such as GLP-1, fermentation-based products, probiotics, enzymes, nutritional actives, vitamin analogues, and biosimilars. Focused business model for emerging pharma and biotech players: According to the F&S Report, while large multinational pharmaceutical companies currently dominate the global pharmaceuticals market, there is a growing prominence of small pharmaceutical and biotech companies, reflecting a broader shift in the pharmaceutical industry towards novel therapies and innovation-driven growth. Anthem Biosciences has a differentiated business model catering to the needs of small pharmaceutical and emerging biotech companies, from discovery to commercial manufacturing. Comprehensive end-to-end service capabilities: Anthem Biosciences offers comprehensive one-stop service capabilities across the drug life cycle (drug discovery, development, and manufacturing) for both small molecules and biologics and is the fastest-growing Indian CRDMO. Key risks of Anthem Biosciences High dependence on CRDMO services: Anthem Biosciences' business depends on the demand for its contract research, development and manufacturing organisation (CRDMO) services, which contributed to 81.65 per cent of its revenue from operations in Fiscal 2025. Any adverse impact on its CRDMO customers' business or the industries in which they operate may have a material adverse effect on the company's business. Dependence on DavosPharma for US market presence: Anthem Biosciences is dependent on its arrangements with DavosPharma, the affiliate of one of its shareholders and also a selling shareholder, for its business and marketing activities in the United States. Reliance on the success of specific molecules: The company's financial performance is dependent on the success of the molecules it manufactures, and its revenue from operations decreased in Fiscal 2023 compared to Fiscal 2022, partly attributable to the failure of a Phase III molecule and the withdrawal of a commercialised molecule. Accordingly, any unfavorable developments affecting these molecules' success rates, including failures to obtain the required regulatory approvals or withdrawal of commercialised molecules, may have an adverse impact on Anthem Biosciences' business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects. Risks associated with project failures: Developmental and commercial manufacturing contributed to 70.78 per cent of Anthem Biosciences' revenue from operations and 71.90 per cent of its total number of projects in Fiscal 2025. The company's business may be adversely affected by a failure in early-phase developmental projects or a failure to develop or manufacture commercially viable drugs, including for reasons that are not within Anthem Biosciences' control.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Anthem Biosciences IPO: Rs 3,395 crore IPO to open on July 14
The initial public offering (IPO) of Anthem Biosciences will open for subscription on Monday, July 14. The Bengaluru-based CRDMO player is planning to raise Rs 3,395 crore through the issue. The issue will conclude on Wednesday, July 16. About Anthem Biosciences IPO The IPO is an Offer for Sale (OFS) and comprises stake sale aggregating up to Rs 350 crores each by Ganesh Sambasivam and K Ravindra Chandrappa who are promoter selling shareholders. Up to Rs 1,325 crores will be offloaded by Viridity Tone LLP and up to Rs 320 crores by Portsmouth Technologies LLC (Investor Selling Shareholders). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo It also includes stake sales of Rs 320 crores each by Malay J Barua, Rupesh N Kinekar and Satish Sharma, up to Rs 80 crore by Prakash Kariabettan and up to Rs 10 crore by K Ramakrishnan. About Anthem Biosciences Anthem's business comprises Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO) services and the manufacture and sale of specialty ingredients. It offers a comprehensive, integrated and highly customizable range of CRDMO services across the New Chemical Entity (NCE) and New Biological Entity (NBE) lifecycles. The company claims to have a strong presence across various modalities, such as RNAi, ADC, peptides, lipids and oligonucleotides, and manufacturing techniques, such as flow chemistry, enzymatic processes, biocatalysis and fermentation, offering a broad range of technology capabilities for drug development. It also manufactures and sells complex specialized fermentation-based Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), including probiotics, enzymes, peptides, nutritional actives, vitamin analogues and biosimilars. Live Events Ajay Bhardwaj (Chairman, MD & CEO), Ganesh Sambasivam (Whole-time Director and Chief Scientific Officer), K Ravindra Chandrappa (Whole-time Director and Chief Operating Officer) and Ishaan Bhardwaj (Vice President) are the Promoters of the company. The company, which was incorporated in 2006, has two operational manufacturing facilities in India, Unit I (Bommassandra) and Unit II (Harohalli), both in Karnataka, with an aggregate annual custom synthesis capacity of 270 kL and fermentation capacity of 142 kL, as of March 31, 2025. According to the RHP, the company is in the process of expanding its custom synthesis capacity at Unit II (Harohalli) by 130 kL as well as expanding its custom synthesis capacity by 25kL and fermentation capacity by 40kL by constructing Unit III (Neoanthem Lifesciences Private Limited, wholly-owned Subsidiary), both expected to be fully operational by the first half of Fiscal 2026. Post-expansion activities, the aggregate annual custom synthesis capacity and fermentation capacity is expected to increase to 425 kL and 182 kL, respectively. The fermentation capacity of 182 kL is expected to be more than six times the capacity of the second largest player in this industry, according to the F&S Report. Anthem Biosciences financials Its revenue from operations increased by 30% to Rs 1,844 crores in FY25 from Rs 1,419 crores in FY24. The PAT for the year ended March 31, 2025 was Rs 451 crores, a jump of 22.86% over FY24. Sai Life Sciences Limited, Syngene International Limited , Cohance Lifesciences Limited , (Formerly Suven Pharmaceuticals) and Divi's Laboratories Limited are the listed peers of Anthem Biosciences, as per its RHP. Anthem Biosciences lead managers The Book Running Lead Managers to the offer are JM Financial Limited , Citigroup Global Markets India Private Limited, J.P. Morgan India Private Limited and Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities (India) Private Limited. The equity shares are proposed to be listed on BSE and NSE.
