genglob magazine

Hyderabad – based pharmaceutical company Natco Pharma has launched Natflu capsules, the generic version of Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) in India.

Presently, it will be distributing its product through 18 local distributors from domestic market and these distributors will be supplying capsules to stockists who will supply to chemists. The medicine’s maximum retail price is 30% cheaper then the existing drug antiflu from Cipla and it will be available in all Schedule X pharmacies. This would soon be available at our sponsor genglob.com store as well.

On the sidelines of a press conference held in Mumbai, Ambarish Jambhorkar, Product Manager, Natco Pharma said, “We have developed this product in our US FDA approved facility at Kothur near to Hyderabad. At present, we are ready with 1,25,000 doses and with required raw materials for swine flu market. All this preparation we have in place, because as and when requirement will come from the market we want to meet all expectations which depends on the seriousness of the swine flu situation in India anywhere.”

Commenting on sales expectations Jambhorkar said, “Price depends on costing and the formulation (cost) of this product is very high. We are working with low margins for this drug from the humane angle and not for purely commercial reasons. So, for the first year we are not targeting much (sales revenues). We are also developing new biotech products, monoclonal antibodies”

Globally this drug is approved both for treatment and prevention of swine flu. Natflu is being launched all over India by Natco but since Maharashtra and Karnataka are the states where maximum swine flu deaths have been reported, these two states are the immediate focus areas.

The company has two new chemical entities (NCE) in its research pipeline in the oncology and blood cancer areas. Its blood cancer molecule named as NCR 19 has multiple uses and is in phase I clinical trials whereas its oncology molecule is in pre- clinical stages and will be entering pharma I trials in in four-five months.

Currently, it has four manufacturing facilities in Andhra Pradesh and Dehradun employing around 2000 people. It manufactures branded and generic dosage forms, bulk actives and intermediates for both the Indian as well as the international markets. The company is a pioneer in timed release dosage systems in India. To give more boost to business, the company has identified a new location in Hyderabad for setting up a new manufacturing facility for existing products. Revealing more on its expansion plans Jambhorkar said, “At present we can’t reveal more on investment part but we are targeting that we will commence full fledged commercial production from new facility from next financial year.”

During 2008-09, the company has achieved turnover of Rs 400 crore and from the current fiscal it is targeting Rs 700 crore. The company is continuously expanding its reach in CIS region as well as in South American and US market though partnerships.