US-based Ocugen to set up R&D center in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: US-based biotech company Ocugen is planning to establish a research and development (R&D) center in Telangana that will focus on developing cutting-edge modifier gene therapies and regenerative cell therapy targeting unmet medical needs, and vaccines to support public health. The center will make a positive economic impact in the region and provide a significant number of jobs over the next few years.

The announcement was made after Telangana IT & Industries Minister KT Rama Rao’s meeting with Dr Shankar Musunuri, Chairman, CEO and Co-founder of Ocugen; Dr Arun Upadhyay, Chief Scientific Officer, Head of Research, Development and Medical at Ocugen; and Dr Ajay Potluri, In Charge of the Ocugen India Project in New York.

“We look forward to expanding operations in India and beginning to transform Ocugen into a truly global organization as we pursue new approaches to medicine—being bold and thinking differently with patients at the center of everything we do,” said Dr Shankar Musunuri. “We are grateful for this opportunity, and it has been a pleasure collaborating with the Telangana authorities.” KT Rama Rao said, "As part of our 2030 vision of becoming a $250-billion ecosystem, we had identified complex manufacturing and advanced therapeutics as a key pillar for growth and I believe this investment focused on growth and I believe that this investment focused on cell & gene therapy is strategic in nature to drive growth in emerging areas of lifesciences.”

Ocugen’s novel R&D pipeline encompasses three unique platform technologies focused on ophthalmology, orthopedics, and infectious diseases. The company’s breakthrough modifier gene therapy platform has the potential to treat multiple retinal diseases caused by mutations in multiple genes with a single product unlike traditional gene therapies.

“Establishing an R&D center in India creates a niche for discovering next generation regenerative and genetic medicines to address unmet medical needs. I am excited to work with the strong scientific and medical communities in Hyderabad while we continue to advance the development of therapeutic candidates at Ocugen,” said Dr Arun Upadhyay.

Dr Ajay Potluri said, "We are thrilled to establish our R&D facility in Telangana State and are deeply grateful for the unwavering support and various incentives offered by the minister and his team. Their commitment to going above and beyond to ensure the success of this project reflects the spirit of innovation and collaboration in the region.”

“We look forward to contributing to the thriving biotech ecosystem in Hyderabad and working together to potentially bring transformative therapies to patients in need," he added.

Currently, Ocugen has three modifier gene therapy programs OCU400 (to treat retinitis pigmentosa and Leber congenital amaurosis), OCU410 (for dry AMD), and OCU410ST (for ABCA4-related retinopathies). Ocugen is the first company to take this modifier gene therapy concept into the clinic globally.

Hyderabad is striving to be “the knowledge capital of the world’s life sciences industry.” The city already serves more than 1,000 global life sciences companies in their innovation journey, including the top 10 pharma companies. Four of the top 10 global innovator companies now have a direct presence in Hyderabad through their dedicated centers.