Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, laid the foundation stone for a major pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Kathua.
The facility, which is expected to involve an investment of ₹600–700 crore, will be established by Orchid Pharma with support from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), an agency under the Department of Biotechnology.
Officials said the project aims to expand India’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities while strengthening domestic production of key antibiotic ingredients.
The facility will manufacture 7-Amino Cephalosporanic Acid (7-ACA), a crucial intermediate used in the production of cephalosporin antibiotics.
Cephalosporins are a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics commonly used to treat bacterial infections, including respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, and skin infections.
At present, India relies heavily on imports, particularly from China for several antibiotic intermediates, including 7-ACA. According to officials, domestic manufacturing of this compound could reduce supply vulnerabilities and improve availability of antibiotic ingredients.
The project is being developed under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, a Government of India initiative aimed at promoting domestic manufacturing across sectors, including pharmaceuticals.
During the ceremony, Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that investments in pharmaceutical manufacturing reflect growing industrial confidence in the region.
He noted that strengthening domestic production of pharmaceutical intermediates could help address vulnerabilities in global supply chains that became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The minister also referred to the recently announced ₹10,000-crore Biopharma Shakti initiative, which aims to expand India’s biotechnology and biopharmaceutical ecosystem.
Officials said the new facility is expected to create approximately 400 direct jobs and a similar number of indirect employment opportunities in areas such as logistics, supply chains, and allied industries.
The project is being developed in Village Gadadhar in Kathua district, an area that has seen increasing industrial investment in recent years.
According to government officials, expansion of pharmaceutical manufacturing infrastructure could contribute to long-term economic development and skills training in the region.
During the event, Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the importance of building domestic manufacturing capacity for critical pharmaceutical inputs.
He stated that antibiotics remain essential to modern healthcare systems and that disruptions in global supply chains can affect drug availability and pricing.
By producing key antibiotic intermediates domestically, the Kathua facility could help strengthen India’s pharmaceutical supply resilience and support the country’s role as a supplier of generic medicines globally.
India is one of the world’s largest producers of generic medicines and has an expanding biotechnology sector.
According to government data, the country ranks third in biomanufacturing within the Asia-Pacific region and 30th globally.
Officials said projects such as the Kathua manufacturing facility may help India move further up the pharmaceutical value chain, particularly in the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and antibiotic intermediates.
Orchid Pharma is among the global manufacturers of cephalosporin antibiotics and supplies pharmaceutical products to more than 60 countries.
The company works with over 200 international partners and customers, according to officials at the event.
Representatives from BIRAC, the Department of Biotechnology, and local administrative authorities were also present during the foundation-stone ceremony.
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