An increased presence from Indian biopharmaceutical companies like Shantha Biotech, Bharat Biotech, Panacea Biotech, and Wockhardt into the domestic recombinant drug segment has brought the prices of these drugs down, thereby inducing a volume wise growth in the recombinant biopharmaceutical market.

As a result, the recombinant biopharmaceutical market is projected to touch Rs. 879 crore by 2005, a 78 per cent growth compared to Rs. 491.85 crore in 2000. The projections were mentioned in a recent report on biotechnology titled "Biotech India Opportunities" by Firstcall India Equity Advisors (FIEA), a Mumbai-based investment advisors for FIIs. The statistics were provided by Technology Information Forecasting & Assessment Council (TIFAC).

The biopharmaceuticals include insulin, Hepatitis B vaccine, Erythropoietin, Human Growth Hormones, Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor or G-CSF, alpha-interferon, gamma interferon, blood factor VIII, Follicle Stimulating Hormone and TPA, which have been approved by the DCGI.

According to the report, Hepatitis B vaccine market in the country would double to Rs. 415.3 crore by 2005 compared to Rs. 206.5 crore in 2000. "When Shantha first introduced its locally developed recombinant Hepatitis Biotech vaccine, it had forced down SmithKline Beecham's local selling price of about Rs. 500 per dose down to Rs. 25 per dose. The market for recombinant HB vaccine now counts four local players - Shantha, Bharat, Panacea and Wockhardt," said Dr. V.V.L.N. Sastry, country head, FIEA.

The insulin market is expected to touch Rs. 121.05 cr compared to Rs. 75.15 cr in 2000, a growth of over 61 per cent. The major players acting in the segment include, Wockhardt, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Biocon, USV, Aventis Pharma, Cadila Pharma, Sarabhai and Glenmark Pharma. The segment covers both animal and human insulin.

Streptokinase market is expected to touch Rs. 40.5 cr in 2005 from Rs. 23.85 cr in 2000, a 69 per cent growth. Shantha Biotech and Bharat Biotech are the two major streptokinase manufacturers in India. There are also some players selling imported streptokinase from abroad.

Erythropoietin market is projected to reach Rs. 29.25 cr in 2005 compared to Rs. 18.45 cr in 2000, a growth of more than 58 per cent. Wockhardt, Shantha and Biological E are the major manufacturers of EPO in the country.

G-CSF market is expected to reach Rs. 111.15 cr by 2005 compared to 68.85 cr, a growth of 61 per cent. Dr. Reddy's Labs, Nicholas Piramal, Zydus Cadila, and Shantha are the manufacturers of G-CSF in the country.

Interferon alpha market is expected to touch Rs. 119.25 cr compared to Rs. 72 cr in 2000. Shantha Biotech is the only manufacturer of Interferon in the country today.

Human growth hormone market is expected to reach Rs. 16.65 cr by 2005 compared to Rs. 10.35 cr in 2000. Gamma interferon market would reach Rs. 90 lakh by 2005 compared to Rs. 45 lakh, blood factor VIII market would reach Rs. 1.35 cr in 2005 compared to Rs. 90 lakh, and FSH market is expected to reach Rs. 22.05 cr in 2005 compared to Rs. 13.95 cr in 2000.

"Products like human growth hormone, gamma interferon, Blood Factor VIII and FSH are mostly exported to the country by Korean, Chinese, Russian and Cuban companies. Local distributors sell these products in Indian market," said Dr. Sastry.

As regards to global biotech drug market, the projected sales for 2005 is $ 46,093 million compared to $ 6,743 million in 2000. The top three recombinant products in demand globally are insulin, Erythropoietin and interferon alpha. The insulin market is expected to double in 2005 to $ 1,720 million compared to $ 918 million in 2000. The EPO market would also double to $ 3,337 million compared to $ 1,703 million in 2000. Alpha interferon market would more than double to $ 1,939 million compared to $ 946 million in 2000.