“Where ceaseless search is an elemental urge fuelling growth and evolution”

NATCO's R & D approach is consolidated into a centralised, multi-pronged R & D operation as its Research Center focusing on basic research, custom synthesis, new processes, natural products and effective dosage delivery systems. The R & D network is received as both an initiator as well as a facilitator of its knowledge management system, for which NATCO relies heavily on Electronic Data Management. The Center has proven expertise in the elaboration and registration of numerous DMF's in Europe and the USA.

If core competence is a bundle of integrated skills and technology, NATCO's central R & D exemplifies it. NATCO's approaches have successfully yielded new patentable technologies/processes, adapted new systems to deliver drugs more effectively and created viable business options to achieve its objectives.

The confidential basic research programme at the NATCO Research Center is following some exciting leads in its pursuit for new chemical compounds. R & D at NATCO is verging on an exciting IPR portfolio in NCE's and processes.

R & D Infrastructure- Located in the emerging knowledge city of Hyderabad. Over 60,000 sq. ft. of facilities for R & D, Synthesis laboratories, Analytical development units, Hazard analysis laboratory. Three pilot plants, Modern equipment lines-HPLC, GC-MS DSC, UV, IR, X-ray diffraction, calorimeters, capillary electrophoreses and laser diffraction, and collaboration for new drug evaluation.

Its location also enables it to network well with India's well known healthcare cluster comprising leading companies, top hospitals and research centers.

A core team of 45 highly skilled professionals in research and development (R&D). This includes Fourteen Scientists with Doctorates in synthetic organic chemistry, supported by a string of technically qualified staff.

It has undertaken collaborative ventures with leading Indian research organizations such as CCMB, IICT and CLRI to focus on developing areas such as peptides, iso-ascorbic acid and advanced dosage delivery systems such as microspheres and nanospheres.

A new state-of-the-art integrated Research Center in Hyderabad is being built to work towards new molecular entities, therapeutic, phytochemicals and bio-technology products including peptides, immuno suppressants and related products.

NATCO's expertise in chemistry can be contracted for custom synthesis at various levels of research and development.

INFRASTRUCTURE:

• 30, 000 Sq. ft of laboratory space.
• 30, 000 Sq. ft of space available for further expansion.
• 7 laboratories for Synthesis / Process Innovation.
• 4 laboratories for Analytical Method Development & Analytical Instrumentation.
• A laboratory for Natural Actives & Biotech oriented research.
• All-Glass unit for Kilogram level scale-up studies.
• Centralized Library housing over 3000 books, journals & periodicals.
• Computer Database for on-line literature search & patent scan.

FACILITIES:

• Equipment for milligram to kilogram level synthesis
• Equipment for Semi-Commercial column-Chromatography
• Separate multi-kilogram level all-glass facility for scale-up studies and process consolidation.
• Centralized analytical development facility for analytical method development / validation studies.

HUMAN RESOURCES:

• Group Leaders with DOCTORAL/POST-DOCTORAL qualifications trained to lead both innovative & process development chemistry.
• Core team Scientists of high calibre & with experience or exposure of current trends in PROCESS R & D.
• Separate up-scaling team with extensive Process plant & Engineering expertise.
• Analytical Integrated Method Development team with wide experience in Chemical & Instrumental Methods of Analysis & Method
  Validation(CAPILLARY GC, CHIRAL HPLC, LCMS, DSC).
• Dedicated impurity profiling team for SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION and Pooling of impurity samples.

R & D CAPABILITIES:

• Expertise in Heterocyclic Chemistry.
• Organometallic Reagents - Novel Applications and Handling on Commercial Scale.
• Metal Hydride Reagents - Novel Applications and Handling on Up-Scaling.
• Expertise in Catalytic Hydrogenation /Hydrogenolysis / Dehydrogenation.
• Chral Chemistry - Asymmetric Synthesis And Asymmetric Induction.
• Optimization Expertise in optical resolutions and methods of Randomization of Chiral Waste.

R & D ACHIEVEMENTS:

• Center recognized by Department of Science And Technology (DSIR).
• Developed Non-Infringing methods for a number of API's over the past four years.
• Over 30 Patents are in various stages of filing, review and granting.
• Evolved cost-effective manufacturing processes for a good number of API's/INTERMEDIATES which have been commercialized successfully.
• An Award has been received for One such cost-effective process for a life-saving Anti-Cancer drug in year 2003.

KEY THERAPEUTIC SEGMENTS:

• ANTI-MIGRAINE.
• ANTI-HYPERTENSIVES.
• H+ PUMP INHIBITORS. GI - DISORDERS.
• ANTI-DEPRESSANTS.
• CNS - DISORDERS
• ANTI-NEOPLASTICS.

CUSTOM SYNTHESIS & CONTRACT RESEARCH:

• Research - Oriented Specialty Chemicals
• Tie-ups with global companies for advanced intermediates for Experimental Drugs.
• Technology packages include Analytical Method Development.
• Rapid scale-up and commercial trials.

ANALYTICAL METHOD DEVELOPMENT EXPERTIZE:

• Analytical Method Development for APIS and Intermediates.
• Analytical Validation for the Methods.
• Impurity Profiling for APIS.
• Analytical Data Package for DMF's / CoS Regulatory documents.

SUPPORT TO OTHER FUNCTIONS:

• Technology Transfer / Process Stabilization & trouble shooting.
• Data Generation for preparation of regulatory documents - DMF/CTD/COS.
• Technical write-ups & Product briefs (Business Development & Marketing).

R & D FOCUS:

• Patent Non-Infringing routes of Synthesis.
• Process Economy.
• Quality Edge.
• Continuous improvement & up gradation of Technologies.

NEW FRONTIERS:

• Fermentation / Microbiological oriented Semi-Synthetic Processes.
• Exploratory Biotech oriented research.
• Research on molecular modification/analogs.
• Molecular modification of Natural actives.
• Collaborations / tie-ups with national/global institutions to supplement new research activities.