Bristol Myers CEO says India to have largest R&D presence outside US by 2025 (updated)

Syngene International

27/02/2024 11:31

(Updates with additional company comments in paragraphs 4 and
6)
    By Rishika  Sadam and Leroy  Leo
       HYDERABAD, Feb 27 (Reuters) - 
    U.S. drugmaker Bristol Myers Squibb  BMY.N  aims to expand
its research and development presence in India and expects its
newly inaugurated Hyderabad facility to become its largest unit
outside the U.S. by 2025, CEO Christopher Boerner said on
Tuesday. 
    The $100-million facility, inaugurated by Boerner on Monday,
is expected to employ over 1,500 employees and will be used to
enhance its drug development through the use of digital
technologies and artificial intelligence, he said in his keynote
speech at the BioAsia conference.
    Bristol Myers also operates a research and development
centre in Bengaluru in partnership with the Biocon Group's
 BION.NS  Syngene International. 
    The India unit is participating in 17 clinical trials for
testing new therapies for cancer, blood disorders and heart
diseases among others, the cancer-focused drugmaker told
Reuters.
    Bristol Myers is yet to launch its cancer cell therapies
Abecma and Breyanzi in the country, but its other cancer drugs
such as nivolumab and ipilimumab are sold under the brand names
Opdyta and Yervoi.
    When asked about Bristol Myers's plans to launch or seek
approval for its cell therapies in India, a spokesperson said
that the company could not comment on its discussions with
regulatory bodies.
    The company is also developing next-generation cell
therapies for autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and
plans to use AI technologies to accelerate the development,
Boerner said, adding that it plans to make these more widely
available, including in markets such as India.
    Bristol Myers expects its top-selling drugs such as blood
thinner Eliquis and cancer immunotherapy Opdivo to lose patent
protection in key markets later this decade and announced a
string of deals late last year to restock its drug development
pipeline. 
    

 (Reporting by Leroy Leo and Rishika Sadam in Hyderabad; Editing
by Janane Venkatraman)
 ((Leroy.Dsouza@thomsonreuters.com ; https://twitter.com/LeroyLeo7;))