India-based Venus Remedies, which is located in Chandigarh, came into existence way back in September 1989 as Venus Glucose, dealing in intravenous fluids. Since then it has carved a niche in the specialty and super specialty products in high-growth therapeutic segments like antimicrobial resistance, oncology, cardiovascular and neurology for itself. The company presently focuses only on injectable products because of the relatively fewer competition in the segment.

In an exclusive conversation with BioSpectrum, Mr Pawan Chaudhary, chaiman and managing director of the company, speaks about its history, areas of operation, R&D and future outlook.

Please tell briefly about the company history and its relevance in the present day?
Venus started with manufacturing the most common glucose and glucose saline dispensed in 500 ml bottles. However, the company in 1994-95, decided to expand the product portfolio by transforming itself into a research driven company with focus on super specialty and critical care segments where there's unmet need in oncology and antimicrobial resistance segments. By getting listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange, it went public in the year 1995 with a first public issue.

Co-occurring with the sweeping changes in the patent laws governing the Indian drug industry, the company also underwent many many other changes. Today, the company has a presence in six continents and 60 countries covering more than 75 products by shifting its focus from generics to R&D led company and built an in-house R&D facilities comprising the latest technical laboratory testing equipment. Today, the company possesses three manufacturing units, one each on Panchkula, Baddi and Werne (Germany) along with a state-of-the-art research center in Baddi known as Venus Medicine Research Center (VMRC), nine well equipped laboratories with 100 million capacity and competent staff of more than 1,500 employees.

Please explain the company's areas of operation? Which overseas markets have been the target of the company?
Venus is one of the very few R&D-led firms in the world working on anti microbial resistance. The company could foresee the potential of antibiotics fading 10 years back and this has resulted in its focused approach that today it has some the superbug tackling solutions under patent protection. The manufacturing facilities of the company are accredited with around 15 national and international certifications. Besides these, the company's research and development center (VMRC) is also approved by the department of scientific and industrial research (DSIR), government of India.