Roche Diagnostics India private Ltd (Roche Diagnostics India), a part of the F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, plans to develop tissue-diagnostic products for the rapid detection of cancer and infectious diseases in line with its bid to expand operations in the country. The company also plans to increase spending on clinical research aimed at gathering data that can be used to develop and sell new and existing products in the country.
This will be in combination with substantial investment on clinical research for generating India-specific data for both, new product development, and marketing existing products. The company plans to consolidate its Indian operations over the next 3-4 years and emerge as one of India’s top healthcare diagnostic equipment companies.
Roche Diagnostics India CMD Bhuwnesh Agrawal said the tissue diagnostic products would enable doctors and pathologists to undertake analysis of tissue samples.
“We got this portfolio by virtue of Roche’s global acquisition of US’ Ventana Medical Systems. It will help us to expand our presence in India,” he said. Globally, the diagnostic division has a revenue of about $9 billion and accounts for nearly 20% of Roche’s overall turnover.
“For instance, we are looking at rural and child healthcare in a major way. This includes products to diagnose and prevent cases of maternal mortality, sepsis, TB, renal function and cardio-vascular diseases,” said Agrawal.
“We have recently undertaken a study of 15,000 subjects on blood transfusion systems in Delhi. Such studies will generate clinical data that will help us to devise product standards since the genetic make-up, weight and height of Indian people are quite different. Such clinical research will provide medical value to pathologists and doctors here,” said Agrawal.