In a significant move to bolster its research and development capabilities, Granules India Ltd has inaugurated two state-of-the-art research centres of excellence (CoEs) at the prestigious IIT Hyderabad (IITH) Technology Research Park. The announcement, made on Monday, marks a strategic investment in cutting-edge pharmaceutical sciences.
Dedicated Centres for Advanced Pharmaceutical Research
The two new facilities are the Ascelis CoE for Peptide Development and Characterization and the Granules CoE for Particle Engineering. These centres are established within the IITH campus, creating a direct bridge between industry needs and academic research excellence.
The Ascelis CoE operates under the company's contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) subsidiary, Ascelis Peptides. This centre represents Ascelis' first development and characterization facility within India. It is fully equipped to handle the complex task of characterizing the primary, secondary, and tertiary structures of peptides.
Focus on Peptides and Global Integration
The primary mission of the Ascelis CoE is to drive innovation in cosmetic, therapeutic, and pharmaceutical peptides. Granules India stated that the centre brings advanced analytical and process development capabilities in-house. A key aspect of its operation will be collaboration with the group's Swiss-based R&D facility, Senn Chemicals.
This integrated approach aims to strengthen the company's global peptide offerings and reduce dependency on external partners, creating a more robust and self-reliant research pipeline.
Advancing Particle Engineering and Drug Delivery
The second centre, the Granules CoE for Particle Engineering, will concentrate on pioneering research in material science. Its focus areas include:
- Polymorph research
- Novel drug delivery systems
- Amorphous solid dispersions
The company highlighted that this dedicated platform replaces earlier external and ad-hoc development efforts. It is designed to enable first-to-file opportunities, enhance formulation performance, and support the creation of proprietary technologies for highly regulated international markets.
Leadership Emphasizes Scientific Excellence
The CoEs were inaugurated by Dr Krishna Prasad Chigurupati, the Chairman and Managing Director of Granules India. He was joined by the company's Executive Director, Uma Chigurupati, and Prof BS Murty, the Director of IIT Hyderabad.
Dr Chigurupati emphasized that these centres will significantly strengthen Granules' capabilities in peptide and advanced material sciences, which are expected to define the next wave of pharmaceutical innovation. He stated that scientific excellence and rigorous research have always been cornerstones of the company's long-term strategy.
"With specialised infrastructure and deep scientific expertise, we are enhancing our CDMO ambitions, accelerating breakthrough development, and building differentiated technologies that elevate our global competitiveness and deliver meaningful value to our partners and patients worldwide," Dr Chigurupati said.
This partnership with a premier institute like IIT Hyderabad positions Granules India at the forefront of pharmaceutical R&D, aiming to translate advanced scientific research into commercially viable and innovative healthcare solutions for global markets.
