Bipha Drug Laboratories, one of the oldest pharmaceutical and ayurvedic drug manufacturers in Kerala, is restructuring its operations into four separate sections as part of expansion and to streamline production and marketing.

Bipha plans to have four separate divisions for biotech products, classical kashayam tablets, kashayams and another division for classical formulations. The processes of dividing sections will commence in October this year with the setting up of ‘Bipha Ayurvedix’ for kashayam tablets, said Ajay George Varghese, director, Bipha.

He said Bipha would set up a separate section for ayurvedic spa products by the end of this year. Initially 6 creams, 9 bath soaps and 6 specialty beauty oils will be launched under this division.

The company will launch its products in the Tamil Nadu market, by early next month. Bipha, with a product range of more than 100 products including 42 kashayam tablets, will introduce 9 products in Tamil Nadu within the first six months and will launch another 4 in another six months.

Bipha is also setting up a new manufacturing plant, to be operational by December 2005. Bipha is now trying to identify suitable land for launching an Ayurvedic centre at Kottayam and is planning to set up satellite centres in capital cities of neighbouring states. Talks with US, European and South Asian companies to start Ayurvedic centres in these places are also progressing.