Bal Vedics, the one-year-old the herbal division of Bal Pharma, has chalked out an aggressive strategy to take on the northern markets of the country including UP, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, MP and New Delhi with its range of around 12 Ayurveda products. The market expansions has come in the wake of the division's increasing product launches with the latest-Immuwin, a novel multiple drug prescribed for AIDS.

The division is concentrating on prescription market and is keeping away from Over the Counter (OTC) segment. It is gearing up to grab a substantial share of business with Immuwin as it contains a unique herbal ingredient "Licorice" that prevents viral replication and increases CD4 antibody count which makes it different from other products available in the market," stated Archana Dubey Mitra, senior manager, Sales and Marketing, Bal Vedics.

Among its basket of 12 products, Bal Vedics' Prostowin & Stonex is also gaining popularity. The two products contribute 50 per cent of the turnover which is expected to touch Rs 2 crore in March 2005. Prostowin is claimed to be a complete curative therapy for prostrate enlargement. Stonex is prescribed for the treatment of Kidney stone, Biliary Calculi, and Pancreatic Stone.

The division is also short-listing a training specialist company to conduct an intensive programme for its sales team to be able to increase their competencies. Going hand in hand with the expansion of territories is also the augmentation of sales force from the current strength of 30 to 40 by the year-end and 70 field personnel by 2005-'06.

The division has resorted to contract manufacturing and has tied with Nupal Remedies, a Kerala-based herbal company to manufacture 5 of its products and the remaining range is being outsourced to a Bangalore-based production facility. At a later stage, it would have its own manufacturing plant.

By the end of 2006, the Bal Vedics product range is expected to be around 20. Although its presence right now is only in the domestic arena, it would enter the international market because of major enquiries from UK, Canada, and Pakistan in a couple of months.