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Vol. 4, No. 6 June-July, 2000

 Go to Results Innovator

Wockhardt has reached an advanced stage in the clinical trial for a novel drug delivery system (NDDS) for the cardiac drug Diltiazim in the United States. Once it gets approval, the drug will be the equivalent of the thrice-a-day pill from Hoechst Marion Roussel. Hoechst already sells a once-a-day pill in the United States.

Having obtained a patent for the drug in the United States, the approval of clinical trials is expected in a few weeks. The drug is made of diltiazem in bead form with a polymeric coating and has components that are fast, medium and slow releasing.

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Unichem has come up with two products; one a heart-shaped iron supplement tablet called Feroluv and a pre-menstrual tension capsule called Madonia for women that will be marketed mostly by female medical representatives. The company wanted to come up with a totally female-managed division but had to make some compromise. In six months Foreva has contributed Rs 7 crore to Unichem’s turnover of Rs 215 crore.

The company has also launched 11 formulation brands, two brands being bought over from MM Laboratories, and another one from Baxter-Hyland, United States. Another drug is aimed at prevention of Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn and another for morning sickness. Foreva which aiming at sales of Rs 50 crore is also planning to introduce contraceptives including a morning after pill which is awaiting the approval of the authorities.

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Bupa Piramal, an equal partnership between Nicholas Piramal and the British healthcare group Bupa has launched a healthcare facility called "Wellspring" which is claimed to be a one stop shop for health, fitness and well-being.

The facility includes specialist consultations, advanced diagnostics, pathology, radiology, physiotherapy and a dialysis unit. It also includes a gymnasium and a yoga facility. Nicholas has set up a research unit above this facility where it will conduct clinical trials for its research products. Wellspring will also be used by Nicholas to carry out genome research. It will also have a pharmacy, which will make available to patients rare drug not otherwise available in India.

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Speciality Ranbaxy, an equal partnership between Speciality Laboratories of the United State and Ranbaxy Laboratories is planning a major thrust in its network of satellite laboratories and collection centres with emphasis on North India. Though it was so far concentrating on specialised clinical tests, it will now foray into routine pathological tests as well. Speciality Ranbaxy has envisaged an expansion plan, which will increase from 200 towns to 1,000 towns and collection centres from 400 centres to 1,500 centres and the number of hospitals catered to from 150 to 600.

These satellite laboratories will be owned by franchisees that will set up the infrastructure under the supervision of Speciality Ranbaxy, who will be responsible for quality control.

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Sensur Balm, Alex Cough Syrup and Flucort Ointment, all Lyka Laboratories’ products are in the process of being bought by Glenmark Pharmaceuticals for Rs 30-35 crore one and a half times the products’ annual sales. Glenmark is interested in acquiring these brands for strategic reasons. Sensur has sales of Rs 6 crore, Flucort of Rs 8 core and Alex of Rs 9 crore. Glenmark is a leader in the dermatological category but doesn’t have a presence in the topical steroid segment which will be filled by the acquisition of Flucort. Glenmark can then offer a complete portfolio of dermatology products.

Alex will give Glenmark a presence in the dry cough segment, while its Ascoril fills the anti-expectorant segment. Sensur with several natural oils is a balm that enjoys its own niche market. Glenmark went public earlier this year with a Rs 53-crore issues that was over-subscribed 46 times. The company is targeting sales of around Rs 200 crore in this financial year.

Glenmark is also said to be in talks with Biochem Pharma for its three anti-infective brands, the Rs 27-crore ampicillin formulation Ampilox, the Rs 9-crore cefotaxime brand Biotax and the Rs 6-crore Biorox. The Biochem deal is expected to give Glenmark an entry into the large semi-synthetic penicillin and cephalosporin formulations market.

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As a part of Max India’s venture into healthcare the company is in talks with the Delhi-based Dr. Lal’s Pathological Laboratories for acquiring a 50 per cent stake in the business. Dr. Lal’s business has been valued at Rs 30 crore. By this Max will gain access to Dr. Lal’s 40 blood collection centres and its centralised laboratory in Delhi. Max India has also signed up with the United States based Harvard Medical International for its healthcare projects. The company is setting aside Rs 300 crore to Rs 400 crore for its healthcare foray.

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The merger of Hoechst Marion Roussel and Rhone-Poulenc will not take effect this year. However, the management of these two companies have narrowed down the therapeutic areas in which the merged company, Aventis Pharma, will function. The merged company will focus on cancer, diabetes, heart, infection, allergy and vaccines. The future of Hoechst Marion’s 35-crore Phensedyl cough syrup is uncertain.

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Sun Pharmaceuticals will make use of the facilities of Tamil Nadu Dadha Pharma which it had acquired a few years ago to establish a research and development base in Chennai. This project coming up in Chennai will concentrate on projects in the areas of new chemical entity (NCE) and novel drug delivery systems (NDDS). Some of the company’s research facilities situated in Baroda, which has done research in peptides, tissue culture and formulation development, will be shifted to Chennai.

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To bring down its debt burden to Rs 75 crore by 2003, Dabur India is planning to reduce its debt burden to about Rs 193 crore from Rs 233 crore by the end of 2000-2001. During the year the company intends to repay Rs 23 crore to Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. It also propose to pre-pay 15-crore debenture to UTI and also sell its real estate in Delhi and other locations.

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A new website PharmQuest.com started in the United States by an India aims to provide tools, databases and other services for drug companies that don’t have the resources to do research on their own. The sort of information provided on the website would include correlation with public databases like the FDA thereby shortening the drug delivery process which would have otherwise taken pharmaceutical companies months to compile on their own.

The website’s drug developments guide outlines major steps in the drug development process including data on pre-clinical testing, new drug applications and clinical trials. Also included are sections on regulatory issues and process, outsourcing services, information from schools and research journals and links to many clinical and research databases.

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Aurobindo Pharma is seeking to professionalise its board of directors with the induction of professionals. Three directors will step down to induct professionals into the board. The company has appointed Ernst & Young as its auditors. Those stepping down will join the group companies at the level of president or vice-president.

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(Being updated)

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