Bharat Biotech mulls new biologics manufacturing facility near Chennai

Chennai: Bharat Biotech is evaluating a new biologics manufacturing facility near Chennai, focusing on diabetes treatment. Speaking to TOI, the company's executive chairman Dr Krishna Ella said they are exploring setting up facilities for monoclonal antibodies and new therapeutic approaches for diabetes and creating an ecosystem similar to what they created in Hyderabad and Odisha. However, he called it a long-term initiative. "We do not want to duplicate vaccines and food here. I am focusing on how to bring some innovative biologics through AI. While we do the R&D and product development across facilities, the Chennai facility might make products," he said, adding that they hope to tap advances in AI guided biologics design. However, he said it's too early to talk about investments. Earlier speaking at the event in the presence of the chief minister, he said he was initially sceptical of Tamil Nadu's potential but was impressed that within 45 days, the state converted outreach into an MoU with minimal direct meetings.