Aurobindo Bets Big on Biologics, Inaugurates TheraNym Manufacturing Hub in Telangana
New Delhi: Aurobindo Pharma has inaugurated TheraNym, one of India's largest dedicated biologics contract manufacturing organisations (CMOs), marking a significant expansion of its presence in the biologics manufacturing segment. The facility was unveiled in the presence of Telangana ministers D. Sridhar Babu and Damodar Raja Narasimha, with global healthcare company MSD joining as its anchor customer.
Prior to the inauguration, Aurobindo Pharma’s directors and MSD’s senior leadership team met Telangana Chief Minister Anumula Revanth Reddy to brief him about the project and express gratitude for the state government's support. The company said the participation of senior ministers at the inauguration reflects Telangana’s continued commitment to establishing itself as a global centre of excellence in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.
TheraNym represents Aurobindo Pharma’s strategic entry into biologics contract manufacturing, a segment witnessing significant global growth and increasing demand for biologic therapies. The company said the facility has been designed and built to international standards and is positioned to support the supply chains of leading global pharmaceutical companies.
Located in Borapatla, around 45 minutes from Hyderabad’s Financial District, the facility houses 15 KL bioreactors, advanced downstream processing suites, aseptic fill-finish capabilities and quality control laboratories. Designed to meet international regulatory expectations, the facility is intended to support MSD’s supply chain requirements for domestic as well as export markets, subject to customer requirements and regulatory approvals.
Dr Satakarni Makkapati, CEO Biologics and Director at Aurobindo Pharma, said the facility represents a defining moment for large-scale biologics manufacturing in India and will help strengthen global access to biologic therapies by providing reliable and cost-effective manufacturing solutions. He added that MSD’s decision to become the anchor customer validates the company’s manufacturing capabilities.
Dr Dave Maraldo, Executive Vice President and President of MSD Manufacturing Division, said the partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to improving access to critical biologic medicines globally. He noted that TheraNym adds meaningful capacity and capability to MSD’s supply chain while helping ensure compliant and reliable supply of products to patients.
Aurobindo Pharma Vice Chairman and Managing Director K. Nithyananda Reddy said the Telangana government had supported the project through policy initiatives and infrastructure facilitation. He added that, following its entry into biosimilars through CuraTeQ, the company is now positioning biologics as a major growth driver through the addition of TheraNym’s contract manufacturing capabilities.
The company highlighted that Telangana’s Life Sciences Policy, support from T-Hub and Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC), and proactive engagement with industry stakeholders have helped create an ecosystem that encourages large-scale pharmaceutical and biotechnology investments.
Aurobindo Pharma also emphasized Hyderabad’s position as India’s biotechnology capital. According to the company, the city is home to more than 800 pharmaceutical companies, employs over 300,000 life sciences professionals and generates pharmaceutical exports exceeding USD 8 billion annually. Genome Valley was highlighted as one of Asia’s largest concentrations of biologics research, development and manufacturing infrastructure.
The company pointed to several strengths of the Hyderabad ecosystem, including access to scientific talent from institutions such as IITs, BITS, University of Hyderabad and CCMB; a mature supplier network for bioprocess equipment and raw materials; proximity to an international airport for temperature-sensitive biologics logistics; and collaboration between industry, academia and government through organisations such as BIRAC, DBT and the Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge.
Aurobindo stated that TheraNym will contribute to job creation, technology transfer and supplier development while supporting further growth of Hyderabad’s life sciences ecosystem.
The company also acknowledged the role of national initiatives including the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for pharmaceuticals, the National Biopharma Mission and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) in driving investment and talent into India’s biologics sector. Aurobindo expressed confidence that continued government support could enable India to capture a significant share of the global biologics CDMO market while delivering economic and healthcare benefits.
Aurobindo Pharma, which has a presence in over 150 countries, said TheraNym represents the next phase of its growth strategy as it expands beyond generics and injectables into complex biologics and global contract manufacturing services.
