Natco Pharma Ltd, the Hyderabad-based APIs and formulations maker, which has launched two cancer drugs -- Zoldonat (generic name Zoledronic acid), and Veenat - recently, will be launching another oncology product for treating brain tumours in the first week of September. The company is awaiting the approval of the Drug Controller-General of India which is expected within a week. The new drug will be one-eighth of the cost of the imported drug, according to Rajiv Nannapaneni, Vice-President, Business Development, Natco Pharma.
In January this year, Natco had launched Veenat, used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia. Zoldonat, which was launched in June, is meant for the treatment of bone metastases. Both these injections are sold at less than one-fourth the price of the imported drugs.
After cancer, Natco is planning to enter the neurology segment with the introduction of about 5-6 drugs by the end of the year. "We will focus on the domestic formulations business for the next two years as it will be the key driver of the company's growth," Rajiv Nannapaneni said.
"Our strategy is to focus on niche products and become market leaders in the segments where we are operating," he said.
The revenues from the formulations business would be doubled from Rs 4 crore per month currently to about Rs 8 crore per month by the end of the year. For the next fiscal, the formulations business alone would contribute about Rs 100 crore, he said.