It's `Europe calling', for Indian pharma and biotech companies, especially from Hyderabad. In just about a year, half a dozen companies have either acquired companies, forged license agreements or been acquired.

The big ticket acquisition of Betapharm - Germany's fourth largest generic pharma company, by Dr Reddy's Laboratories in February for Rs 2,250 crore, seems to have set the ball rolling.

Matrix Laboratories Ltd, was recently acquired by the Mylan Group of the US, Aurobindo Pharma Ltd and Granules India Ltd have been the leading players in making big forays into Europe.

Biotechnology firms - Ocimum Biosolutions, Shantha Biotechnics and Bharat Biotech International Ltd - have also been in the spotlight.

The goal seems to be two-way for Indian companies - a foothold and expansion into the European markets, and for the European companies, a means of gaining access to the growing Indian and Asian markets.

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