The Arya Vaidya Nilayam (AVN) Group, Madurai-based ayurveda drug manufacturing company and treatment centre, will float a network of clinics in the Middle East, branded as 'AVN Middle East' by July 2006.

The company is on its final stage of signing an agreement for collaboration with a Bahrain based company for exports and setting up treatment centres in Middle East. Plans are to set up six clinics in the area as the first phase.

"We have started work to set up a clinic at Bahrain and six clinics in various parts of Arab Emirates. The collaboration is with an expectation to leverage the maximum potential of the area within a short period," Dr. Ramesh R Varier, MD, AVN Group told Pharmabiz. He said that the details of collaboration would be revealed soon after attaining the registration from these countries.

The company has also entered into a joint venture with a New Jersey based company, Apptec Inc., to form a company named INDUS Natural Herbaceuticals Ltd., to come up with a herbal anti-diabetic product, which will be launched in December 2006.

The drug is under clinical studies by a CRO in India and the plans are to file patent by July 2006, informed Ramesh. The product, for prevention of diabetic complications, will be first launched in India and the supply will be initially provided in US according to the agreement with Apptec Inc.

The healthcare services of AVN, branded as AVN Arogya is targeting to set up five more treatment centres in India within the end of year 2006. The company, which already has clinics and treatment centres in Mumbai, Chennai, Madurai and Vellore, is planning to set up one treatment centre each in Mumbai, Chennai, Madurai, Kozhikode in Kerala within that time. The company is also targeting Banglore as its next destination to set up a clinic.

AVN is also planning to foray into the personal healthcare segment with a product range of soaps, herbal toothpastes, shampoos and face creams. With the brand name 'AVEN BLENDZ', the company will launch 8 of its products including two soaps, three shampoos, a toothpaste, a face cream and a massage oil within the financial year.

AVN, started as a clinic in Madurai for manufacturing the necessary medicines in the year 1930, envisages introduction of three products in the market in the coming years. "The company is trying to blend traditional knowledge of ayurveda with the modern scientific techniques of treatment," commented Ramesh.