Bipha Drug Laboratories, one of the oldest pharmaceutical and ayurvedic drug manufacturer in Kerala, will be investing around Rs 1.5 crore to manufacture classical ayurvedic products. The company desires to bring out more conventional products at economical prices.

The company is building up its fermenting capacity to bring out Kashayams. Bipha is also in the process of bringing out a novel product, which according to informed sources would be a major product in the ayurvedic market. The ingredients, presentation and drug delivery of the product is expected to make it a big hit in the market. The details about the product could not be revealed as it is still under process.

Bipha is also planning to bring out 41 new kashayam tablets. The first 10 would be introduced by the middle of this year and the remaining would be launched by 2008. "We are the pioneers in kashayam tablets and we would like to bring out more tablets at a economical price," Ajay George Varghese, director, Bipha Drug Laboratories told Pharmabiz.

As Pharmabiz had earlier reported, Bipha is starting its Tamilnadu operations from January 7. Forty-five products that would be launched in the State would be distributed through super stockists who have nearly 80 stock points. The company has also appointed nearly 20 field staff inclusive of 5 managers. "We have growth rate of 20 per cent in prescription sales in Kerala. So we would like to expand it further to the other states too. So initially we thought of starting it from our neighbouring state," said Professor R Chandrasekhar, chief mentor, Bipha Drug Laboratories.

He said that the company wanted to introduce the company's real value based products in Tamilnadu at an economical price. "In Tamilnadu the siddha practioners have a great respect for ayurvedic products. So we are sure that our products will go well in this State too," said Chandrasekhar.

Speaking about their future plans, Ajay said that the company would be starting their operations in Andhra within three months with equal number of sales staff and distributors.