CHENNAI: The Chennai-based ABL Biotechnologies is setting up a state-of-the-art research and development facility at Ticel Biopark here.

The 10,000-sq. ft. facility will come up at an investment of Rs. 25 crore.

The facility, expected to go on stream on January 8, will focus on research and development of products from marine microbial organisms for application in nutrition, pharmaceutical and cosmetics.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, K. O. Isaac, Chairman and Managing Director, said the promoters would infuse additional equity into the company to part-fund the R&D facility. The promoters currently held 28 per cent stake in the Rs. 4.10-crore equity of the company.

A part of the fund needs would come through support from the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Biotechnology.

ABL had built up a marine microbe culture collection of over 1,300 strains, he said.

The company was setting up commercial facilities for producing fluorescent pigment used in anti-cancer application from marine cyanobacteria, `Phormidium'. It was also working on making DHA, an Omega 3 fatty acid, from a fungus, Schizochitrium. These facilities would come up at Tiruchendur, where it had already a unit to make beta-carotenes from marine algae Dunaliella salina.

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