A joint publication by ValueNotes and KnowGenix
Published December 2007

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Research companies around the world now feel the need for enormous computing and data management competencies to sequence and categorize data generated by drug-discovery labs. To facilitate the storage, management, retrieval, and analysis of this large-scale data, the application of IT to the life sciences sector - bioinformatics, assumes increasingly higher significance. The use of bioinformatics tools lowers costs, improves efficiency and reduces development-to-launch timelines. The drive to further reduce R&D costs by off-shoring to low cost destinations is fuelling the outsourcing of bioinformatics services from India. This report, based on a study conducted by ValueNotes and KnowGenix, examines the bioinformatics services outsourcing market in India for the life sciences space.

According to Arun Jethmalani, CEO, ValueNotes, "Outsourcing to India, compared to other developed countries, offers about 30-40% costs savings in overall drug discovery research, and close to 60% cost savings when outsourcing core bioinformatics services. This is owing to the lower wage costs for skilled manpower, and lower infrastructure costs."

ValueNotes estimates that India's bioinformatics services outsourcing revenues are about USD 32 million, and are expected to grow at a CAGR of 25% touching USD 62 million by 2010. India has emerged as an attractive destination for outsourcing bioinformatics services owing to availability of low cost English-speaking manpower, lower capital and operational costs, and its established success as an IT and pharma outsourcing hub. "Vendors, that lack international visibility for their products, are rapidly building service capabilities to capitalize on the India advantage. Pure play companies offer specialized services, IT companies offer services across the life sciences vertical while domestic life sciences companies are offering a complete research solution that includes bioinformatics services", says Dr Raj Rajagopal, CCO KnowGenix.

The Indian vendor landscape for bioinformatics services outsourcing is made up of:

• Pure bioinformatics companies like Strand Life Sciences, Molecular Connections, VLife Sciences Technologies
• Domestic IT companies like Infosys, HCL Technologies, TCS
• Domestic companies with focus on CRAMS like Jubilant Biosys, Avesthagen, GVK Biosciences
• Multinational IT companies like Mphasis, IBM India
• Multinational Pure bioinformatics companies like Cytogenomics, LabVantage

Going forward, we expect vendors to explore alliances or acquisitions to broaden their product/service portfolio, customer base, and geographical reach. Currently, vendors are actively seeking alliances that complement their core competencies and allow them to use emerging technologies in a mutually beneficial and cost competitive manner. Partnering strategies like licensing arrangements, marketing arrangements, and collaborative product development and research partnerships will be increasingly undertaken. According to Suchita Chaudhari, Senior Analyst at ValueNotes, "We believe companies offering an integrated services portfolio will enjoy an upper hand, compelling pure play vendors offering only discovery informatics to expand into clinical trials informatics, and / or life sciences research to remain competitive."

A critical success factor for India as a rising destination for outsourcing bioinformatics services is the availability of quality manpower. "India is facing a shortage of experienced bioinformatics professionals, which is resulting in higher attrition and rising wage levels. These in turn could reduce the cost competitiveness of India over her other counterparts in China, Brazil, Ireland, etc. Government and private initiatives to boost industry-academia interaction, and corporate training initiatives are a step in the right direction," believes Poonam Bhana, Analyst, ValueNotes

The report provides an overview of the buyer scenario and an in-depth analysis of the Indian vendor space along with profiles of major industry players. The report is designed to help:

• Research companies looking to outsource/off-shore bioinformatics services
• Global biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to gain understanding of the Indian bioinformatics vendor space
• Outsourcing consultants to evaluate and compare offerings of Indian bioinformatics vendors
• Potential vendors to assess opportunities in India
• Bioinformatics vendors to assess the competitive environment in India
• Venture capital companies looking for investment opportunities
• Researchers looking for detailed information on Bioinformatics services off-shoring to India

This study, by ValueNotes / KnowGenix, is based on extensive interviews with key bioinformatics vendors in India, supplemented with knowledge from secondary sources.

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