3M talks with Indian firms over drug delivery technologies

KOLKATA, India The diversified technology company 3M, which develops products for health care, office work, transportation, etc., is in discussions with Indian pharma companies to license drug delivery technologies, according to published reports.

The company is a leading provider of asthma inhaler solutions to Indian companies and plans on using these companies to develop medicines, which will be delivered transdermally.

3M expects its drug delivery division to be a future growth driver for its healthcare business in India. The company is also exploring the option to conduct joint studies with Indian pharma firms.

According to 3M India’s vice-president and head of healthcare, Gautam Khanna, “We have initiated talks with the top 10 Indian pharma companies for our transdermal drug delivery systems. The firms are identifying molecules which can be delivered through our technology.” Khanna though did not release the names of the companies.

The company manufactures more than 60 million metered dose inhalers each year.