Pharmabiz
 

Kopran to enter US market by '07, stops domestic formulation sales

Reghu Balakrishnan, MumbaiThursday, October 27, 2005, 08:00 Hrs  [IST]

The Mumbai-based Rs 100-crore Pharmaceutical company, Kopran Ltd plans to enter the US market by 2007. For this, the company is planning to file ANDAs for the formulations as well as bulk drugs. The foray into the regulated markets is according to their plan to focus on international market rather than domestic industry. "As part of our entry into the US market, we will soon submit the ANDAs for both formulations and bulk drugs like Amlodipine, Clarithromycin, Atenolol, Lansoprazole. Amlodipine, Clarithromycin are already off-patent and others will be off-patent by 2007. In addition, we are planning to tie-up with companies in the US for marketing our formulations," a senior company official told Pharmabiz. We are expecting to gain revenue of minimum US$ 50 million from the US by 2010, he added. Meanwhile, the company has stopped marketing its formulations in India by July this year as part of its new business-revamp proposal. The company has plans to focus on the profitable bulk drug business and export of formulations. "The formulation business is comparatively less profitable and small in size than the bulk drug business to the company. So far no one has approached us for taking over the products but we are in talks with few multinational generic companies and domestic firms to market the drugs on royalty basis," he said. In the domestic front, our focus will be only on our 'Smyle' range of products. Smyle brand consists of Cough syrup, Mouth Ulcer Gel, Sore Throat Drop, Nasal Inhaler, Vapour & Rub, Herbal Toothpaste, Talcum Powder, Medicated Adhesive Plaster, baby soap and baby powder. The revenue from 'Smyle' comes around Rs 21 crore, he informed. "We are focusing more on export to international markets. We have earned Rs 9 crore from exports in the quarter ended by September against Rs 10 crore in the last year. We are expecting a sale of Rs 30 crore from export this year. Our formulation plants have MCC South Africa and UK MHRA approval. We are expecting plant inspection by the US FDA and TGA Australia next year. Once we get the FDA approval, we can enter the US market easily," he added. Within 2 years, 7-8 new products will be launched in the OTC segment of cough& cold, pain management, gastroenterology, he added. The major brands of Kopran include Klodip (Amlodipine)-cardiology drug, Cholestat (Atorvastatin Calcium)-cholestrol lowering drug, Cisapid-anti-heart burn drug, Caditone (carvedilol)-anti-hypertension drug, Ketotif (ketotifen)-anti-asthma drug, Zimat (cetrizine dihydrochloride)-anti-allergic drug and Losan (losantan). Earlier, the company had sold out its major brands-Aten (anti-hypertensive) to the Cadila Healthcare for Rs 8 crore, Vent (anti-asthmatic), Tini (anti-amoebic) and Bid range of products and its technologies to Merck Specialities, the subsidiary of the German multinational Merck for Rs 20 crore. Kopran had merged with Kopran Pharmaceuticals Ltd, the company marketing the Smyle brand, with effect from March 1, 2005. The Parijat Enterprises promoted pharma company suffered heavy setback during the year ended March 2005 with a net loss of Rs 35.48 crore as against a small net profit of Rs 0.69 crore in the previous year. The company's sales declined by 29 per cent to Rs 99.08 crore from Rs 139.60 crore. Further, its other income moved down to Rs 1.63 crore from Rs 29.37 crore in the previous period.

 
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