Sandeep Arora

CEO & Director

Regulatory standards, particularly Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), have become more rigorous with the government’s introduction of a revised Schedule M. Upgrading facilities to comply with these new standards has been a significant hurdle, along with increasing competition that remains another major challenge, especially in pricing. Pharma manufacturers must enhance their ability to meet tight delivery schedules and maintain competitive pricing in an increasingly demanding market. With a comprehensive range of products, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, and a steadfast commitment to improving global healthcare, Ultra Drugs Group is making significant strides in delivering affordable and effective medical solutions worldwide.

A part of Ultra Group of Companies, Ultra Drugs is a pharmaceutical manufacturer that produces various pharmaceutical formulations, including tablets, capsules, syrups, soft-gelatin capsules, ointments, and injections. Committed to stringent quality standards, the company adheres to c-GMP (revised Schedule M) and WHO-GMP norms to comply with global regulatory requirements. With a focus on contract manufacturing and only a share of its own business dedicated to its branded products, it has expanded into exports, where pricing dynamics are favorable and competition is less intense. “We work with some of the biggest names in the industry like Ajanta Pharma, Mankind Pharma, Medley Pharma and Micro Labs to name a few”, says Sandeep Arora, CEO & Director, Ultra Group of Companies.

Ensuring Sterility & Safety

The manufacturing process at Ultra Drugs begins with a plant audit by the clients, and upon approval, the client issues a certification, allowing production to begin. Once an order is received, raw materials are sourced exclusively from pre-approved vendors who have undergone audits by the company’s quality assurance team. Furthermore, it manufactures its own printed foils, while packaging materials are designed in-house and procured from vetted suppliers.

Ultra Drugs only manufactures products that have passed stability studies. These studies, conducted in-house, include real-time and accelerated stability tests. Real-time studies involve storing products in controlled chambers for the duration of their shelf life, while accelerated studies expose products to extreme humidity and temperature conditions to assess their stability under stress. In addition, the company operates in-house quality control and microbiology labs where products are tested at every stage of production. For example, the production of an injection takes three days, followed by sterility testing, which requires an additional 14 days. Throughout the process, quality assurance and quality control teams conduct in-process tests. Once final approval is granted, the product is labelled, packed, and released to the market.

Reducing Costs, Enhancing Efficiency

Founded in 2007 with a single facility, Ultra Drugs has since grown to include three pharmaceutical manufacturing units in Himachal Pradesh, a herbal unit in Panchkula, and an API facility in Ludhiana, Punjab. The establishment of its API unit marks a move toward backward integration, allowing the company to control raw material costs more effectively. In addition, it now manufactures its printed foils, labels, and cartons, reducing reliance on external vendors, and improving cost efficiency.

The company’s annual capacity includes 60 million Dry injection vials, 30 million Ampoules, and 24 million Liquid injection vials. In addition, it produces 2400 million tablets across general and cephalosporin categories, 600 million of hard and soft-gel capsules, 48 million liquid syrup bottles, and 18 million ointment tubes. Building on this strong manufacturing base, the company intends to increase its export presence from eight countries to at least fifteen to sixteen within the next two years. Simultaneously, it is scaling its involvement in government healthcare initiatives such as the Jan Aushadhi program nationwide, anticipating considerable expansion in this segment over the next two to three years & is likely to join hands with few more MNCs as their exclusive manufacturer in F.Y 25-26.