Fisher BioPharma, a part of the US-based Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., is now mulling an additional unit at its upcoming clinical trials logistics management facility in the Pharma Special Economic Zone (SEZ) here in Gujarat. The unit could be of one of its sister concern companies which might be present in domains like design services, support services, project management and IT services.

Provider of a complete range of high-end analytical instruments as well as laboratory equipment, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., through Fisher BioPharma has set up a packaging, distribution and logistics management facility for tightly regulated pharmaceutical samples to patients participating in clinical trials across the globe.

“Having set up this facility, we are evaluating whether any of our sister concern laboratory companies or support services companies that cater to our Europe and US facilities could come up here as well. These companies could be in domains like design services, support services, project management or IT services,” said Heinz Stamm, president (Europre and Asia), Fisher BioPharma.

The current logistics management facility has been set up at an investment of around $ 17 million (Rs 68 crore approx.) on an area of 150,000 sq ft. The facility complements the company's existing clinical services operations in the US, Europe and Asia.

By next year, Fisher BioPharma expects to bag anywhere between 50-100 trials from India. “We are not clinical research organisations. Rather we are into logistics management of these trials. In India, there are around 900 such trials going on which are spread across the world. We expect to bag anywhere between 50 and 100 such trials in the coming year,” said Ram Gupta, president and managing director.

“India continues to be a major market of focus for us as we expand our capabilities to support clinical research and development,” said Marijn Dekkers, president and chief executive officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Thermo Fisher now has a larger presence in India with more than 600 employees and 20 facilities, including the new full-service clinical packaging and distribution facility at Ahmedabad. The estimated revenue from India in 2008 for the company is around $ 125 million (Rs 500 crore approx.).