Ducks for sale at a market. Hester wants to link its poultry disease surveillance activities with those of the Indian government

Hester Pharmaceuticals is planning to set up an R&D center for monitoring poultry diseases and for the development of poultry vaccines in India.

Rajiv Gandhi, chief executive and managing director of the Indian poultry vaccines manufacturer, told Animal Pharm that the company wants to link its disease surveillance activities with those of the Indian government.

The company is spending Rs60m ($1.5m) to set up the center, which is expected to be operational by June 2008.

Hester has reported a 64% increase in turnover to Rs173.3m in the six months ended September 30th, 2007, largely the result of its expanded production capacity, from 1.2 billion to 5 billion doses of vaccines. Net profits increased by 67% to Rs.42.8m. Hester is currently evaluating various opportunities and global alliances for using its enhanced capacity.

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