BW Communities

On A Therapeutic Quest

BW Online Bureau Nov 08, 2014

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><root available-locales="en_US," default-locale="en_US"><static-content language-id="en_US"><![CDATA[Drug firm Elder Pharmaceuticals has announced plans to foray deeply into the growing personal and lifestyle healthcare sector by focusing on creating products for hypertension, diabetes, cardiac  care, pain management, nicotine replacement therapy and other pharmaceuticals. With its recently added manufacturing plant in Navi Mumbai, the company has acquired a strong presence in women's healthcare, nutraceuticals, anti-infectives, lifestyle diseases and pain management. The company derives 95 per cent of its revenue from the domestic market and is presently ranked 27th by IMS ORG. The firm's main strength lies in marketing the women's healthcare product, Shelcal, a calcium supplement to prevent osteoporosis, and its extensions. In fact a major part of their products are oriented towards taking care of women's healthcare needs, including infections and the requirements of post-menopausal women.  "Elder's focus is on creating a product in a therapeutic category and establishing brand leadership in that segment, apart from developing our own portfolio," says Alok Saxena, Director, International, Elder Pharmaceuticals, who informs that the company has the highest number of in-licence agreements in the domestic market. "Products are chosen based on research and licensed from companies that discovered the original molecules. We stay away from patent infringement, hence the need to acquire so many licences from companies abroad," Saxena clarifies. Elder also has an in-licence with Diawa of Japan for Imbran, an immunomodulator that enhances the body's immune response and is particularly valuable for patients with cancer, AIDS and swine flu. Carnisure, a cardiovascular product, is on a high growth trajectory and will be a major brand in its category. Other key brands include Somazina (for brain stroke), Hibor (low molecular weight heparin) and the recently launched own brand nicotine replacement therapy. Saxena explains that "we are now enhancing our presence in the field of pain management, where we have identified chronic diseases such as arthritis and cartilage disease and have a specific arrangement with two foreign companies to market the products." The company plans to stay in the chronic diseases segment, which requires knowledge and understanding; the products have to be extensively explained to the medical profession for their application. Two drugs, Sampure and Artodar, are specific to this disease. "We have extended our portfolio beyond oral medication to market rubefacients." says Saxena. Nutraceuticals is another area where the company is expanding its operations, catering to cardiac, diabetic and kidney disease patients. Phytomega, which was introduced in arrangement with Enzymotec of Israel, reduces the dose of statins over a period of time and is extremely effective in bringing down levels of triglycerides, the cause of various coronary blockages. It has been clinically proved to be effective and can be deemed as an essential product with statin intake. Ecozyme is a recent introduction. CoQ10 is a vital product for promoting cardiovascular health. The company has created six manufacturing facilities in Uttaranchal, Himachal and Maharashtra for different products. It also has a 61 per cent stake in Biomeda of Bulgaria, which has a manufacturing facility for tablets and is backed by a strong distribution network in that country. This move will fuel the company's growth in the European Union and CIS markets.