ZIM Laboratories listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in November 2022. What does this milestone mean for the company?

ZIM Laboratories Limited is a pharmaceutical company, focused on providing innovative drug delivery solutions that improve patient convenience and adherence of drug treatment using a therapy agnostic approach. ZIM works on products that are coming off patent or that are complex to manufacture, often partnering with midsize pharmaceutical companies that do not have their own strong R&D bases.

NSE is the leading Stock Exchange in India in terms of traded volumes. Listing of ZIM’s equity shares on the NSE, in addition to the BSE, is a key milestone in our pursuit for continued growth and in opening investment possibilities with a wider investor community.

Where is ZIM working to expand its presence?

Over the last few years, we have developed Novel Innovative Products (NIP), which are complex generic pharmaceutical products using non infringing unique process technologies. These products are undergoing clinical studies and dossier completion and our focus for the next few years will be to file for Marketing Authorization for these products in the EU and emerging markets on our own or jointly under license contracts with marketing partners.

In addition, ZIM has a small presence in nutraceuticals in Europe and Latin America where we partner with local players who market these products. The company is planning to expand its presence in these geographies more substantially.

Can you share an example of an innovative drug delivery system ZIM has developed?

ZIM focuses on developing innovative drug delivery platform technologies using non-infringing process innovation that may be applied to bring differentiation in the delivery mechanism. Some of our technologies include Micro Emulsion Coating Technology (MECT), Liquid In Pellets, Pellet Cold Forming Technology (PCFT), Rapid Gelation Drug Release Technology (RGDCT), Matrix Pore Forming Tablet Technology (MAPOTAB) etc., which it leverages to develop innovative generic pharmaceutical products. We also manufacture Oral Thin Films (OTF) as a dosage form using our patented Thinoral® technology. Some of these platform technologies may also be used for developing nutraceutical products.

How significant is the problem of patient non-adherence, and can you share an example of ZIM’s work in this space?

According to Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare (PSQH), around half of Americans do not take their medications as prescribed by their doctor. This accounts for roughly 16%, or US$500 billion, of the entire US healthcare spend each year. We have the same problem in India. People discontinue their prescriptions if they do not like the taste or experience negative side effects. Given the scope of the issue, ZIM sees great opportunity in improving the functioning of the overall healthcare system through providing more patient centric drug delivery systems.

As an example, there is a product marketed by a multinational pharma company for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that comes in the form of a large pill. The problem is that prostate patients tend to avoid drinking water because of their difficulty going to the bathroom, so consumers of this pill were reluctant to take it given the fact that it needed to be taken with water. We developed a micro emulsion coating technology that enabled us to reduce the size of the pill. ZIM will submit this product in at least seven European countries, which will open the company’s pathway into these new markets.

Similarly, we believe that out Oral Thin Film provides a unique drug delivery platform for certain type of patients with resistance to conventional dosage forms and consequently non-adherence to treatment.

What are ZIM’s strategic objectives for the next few years?

We aim to enter regulated markets like the EU and emerging markets like Latin America, SE Asia, Australia and South Africa, as well as select large and attractive markets in MENA, CIS, Africa and Asia. Our strategy includes maintaining a continuous pipeline of innovative products, and we expect eight to 10 products each year to go into the development phase. ZIM will also continue to build on its nutraceutical presence across markets in which it grows its pharmaceutical business.