Nicholas Piramal India Ltd (NPIL) has entered into an agreement with the US-based Minrad Inc for exclusive distribution and marketing of a new generation of inhalation anaesthetic products. The products, isoflurane, enflurane and sevoflurane, will be marketed exclusively by NPIL through dedicated distributors and marketing agents across each market -- Russia, Ukraine, Nigeria, Kenya, Sudan, Syria, Jordan, Iran, Egypt, & Bangladesh. NPIL will also market these products in the domestic market, starting with isoflurane.

Minrad believes that once they are at full capacity, their patented process will make them the lowest-cost producer of Sevoflurane. The three products are manufactured by the company at a dedicated facility in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA. Minrad Inc. is the only global player be-sides Abbott Laboratories and Baxter Healthcare to offer these three products under one roof.

NPIL had earlier acquired the rights to Halothane (the only other major inhalation anesthetic globally). When it took over ICI Ltd''s Indian pharma business in 2002. The agreement with Minrad Inc. now companies NPIL''s portfolio of inhalation anesthetic.

"The agreement with Minrad Inc. positions NPIL uniquely. We have already created a strong niche for Halothane across most of these markets and have strong marketing and distribution networks in place. NPIL is now one of the very few that can offer all the four key inhalation anesthetics. This gives us a unique penetration opportunity that we can leverage well in the emerging markets," said Vijay Shah, Chief Operating Officer, NPIL.

NPIL is the leading player in the anesthetics market in India with its product Fluothane (Halothane). The company''s Carex division, which markets the Fluothane brand, has a turnover of about Rs. 250 million, with a field force of 45. The Cartex division also markets Haemaccel, the market leader in plasma volume expanders in India. ?