Dr Babu Padmanabhan

MD & Chief Knowledge Officer

The pharmaceutical market in India has experienced significant growth in the past few years, transitioning from a focus on APIs and generics to more complex, value-added products. This shift includes the development of specialty pharmaceuticals, complex biologics, and vaccines. Indian companies have increasingly contributed to the global market by synthesizing large molecules and manufacturing intricate products, positioning India as a key player in the pharmaceutical industry. However, this growth comes with challenges. Companies face difficulties in managing the complexity of these advanced products, particularly in terms of technological capabilities and maintaining cost and quality efficiency. The need for sophisticated technology platforms and expertise to navigate these challenges has become critical for staying competitive in this evolving market.

To this end, STEERLife India is strategically positioned as a key enabler in the pharmaceutical development market, partnering with established manufacturers and startups alike to help them scale their operations and bring complex products to the global market. Over the past 15 years, Indian manufacturers have faced significant challenges in meeting stringent regulatory requirements. The firm addresses these challenges through its advanced, automation-driven platform technology, which minimizes human intervention and subjectivity in large-scale manufacturing, ensuring precision and regulatory compliance.

Indu Bhushan, CEO & Director

Specializing in continuous manufacturing, STEERLife pioneers process and product interventions, offering cuttingedge solutions for the seamless production of complex molecules. Its expertise in flow processing, as opposed to traditional batch methods, provides a unique advantage  in enhancing bioavailability, controlled release, and other critical product attributes. STEERLife India's technology supports the most challenging bio-pharma classifications, such as BCS Class 2 and 4, addressing unique patient needs. By leveraging futuristic technologies, the firm accelerates the drug development process, enabling faster market entry with higher efficiency and compliance.

During the clinical phase of drug development, companies seek partners who can differentiate and optimize their products for desirable outcomes. The firm plays a pivotal role in this phase by combining expertise in material science and pharmaceutical science to optimize product design, drug delivery, and performance. While clinical trials assess safety and efficacy, the firm ensures the drug's design achieves the optimal therapeutic outcome by managing dosage, release rates, and bioavailability, particularly for complex oral solid formulations. Its science-driven approach helps partners refine their products, ensuring they perform effectively in clinical studies and are ready for market success.

What sets STEERLife India apart is its ability to provide comprehensive, end-to-end solutions. Unlike other players in the pharmaceutical industry, which is often fragmented across CMOs, CBMOs, and CROs, the firm offers a unique advantage by bringing everything under one umbrella. This unique advantage allows large players to streamline their operations, eliminating the need to engage multiple partners. The company specializes in oral solid formulations, particularly class II and IV molecules, focusing on enhancing bioavailability. By combining expertise in both machinery and differentiated pharmaceutical products, STEERLife India delivers a cohesive and efficient approach to drug development.

STEERLife India boasts a diverse and highly skilled team that drives the firm’s growth through expertise in development and technology transfer. The team is structured with leaders overseeing activities from pre-formulation to prototype development, ensuring a seamless transition from concept to product. A dedicated technology transfer team collaborates with clients and Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) partners to facilitate efficient manufacturing processes. The firm has built internal capabilities in analytical development, while also collaborating with external partners for specialized analyses, such as elemental analysis and nitrosamine estimation. “Our emphasis on formulation development is enhanced by the integration of process engineering and technology, focusing on futuristic practices like green chemistry and solvent-free processes, ultimately enriching the formulation process and advancing industry standards”, adds Indu Bhushan, CEO & Director, STEERLife India.

Journey of Excellence

Since its inception in 2016, STEERLife India, a subsidiary of STEER World founded in 1993, has made significant strides in the pharma industry. The company’s origins are rooted in a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical industry, notably contributing to global health initiatives like PEPFAR alongside multiple pharmaceutical players of repute, working on HIV therapies. This synergy and expertise in antiviral and anti-infective treatments paved the way for STEERLife India's formation. The company has played a pivotal role in advancing pharmaceutical processes, including the manufacturing of drugs like Ritonavir and Lopinavir, significantly impacting the global fight against diseases such as HIV. This foundation continues to drive its growth and innovation.

Moving forward, the firm aims to leverage its innovative processing technologies and differentiated products by collaborating with marketing partners to introduce these innovations to the market. The company’s B2B model focuses on providing manufacturing services and solutions to help partners build their brands. With over 50 patents developed in the last decade, the company plans to utilize its proprietary technology to offer differentiated products and services in the future.

“At STEERLife India, we pride ourselves on being unique in addressing the pharmaceutical industry's most pressing unmet needs, processing and product development. Our vision is to drive innovation in both areas, as we see a deep interdependence between them. Unlike the traditional division between manufacturers and marketers, we aim to transform both aspects. We are mindful of addressing core human needs, especially concerning lifestyle diseases, and work from the ground up to offer solutions that encompass both therapeutic and preventive measures”, concludes Dr Babu Padmanabhan, MD & Chief Knowledge Officer, STEERLife India.