Dr. K. Anji Reddy, chairman of Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd (DRL) will succeed D. S. Brar of Ranbaxy Laboratories as the president of Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), a union of eleven top-notch domestic pharmaceutical companies.

According to an IPA release, H. F. Khorakiwala, chairman and managing director, Wockhardt Ltd, will be the new vice president of IPA, a post vacated by Dr Reddy for his elevation.

IPA, formed in November 1999 with eight leading domestic pharmaceutical companies as members, has emerged as a credible, representative industrial body in the short span of its functioning, working closely with the government on policy matters and in unshackling the industry from redundant regulatory grips.

The members of the IPA are Alembic, Cadila Healthcare, Cipla, DRL, Lupin Laboratories, Nicholas Piramal, Ranbaxy Labs, Sun Pharma, Torrent Pharma, Unichem Lab and Wockhardt. These companies collectively account for about 30 per cent of the domestic pharmaceutical market and contribute one-third of the total pharma exports from the country. Also, over 90 per cent of R&D expenditure in pharmaceutical industry is thanks to these firms, the IPA release says.

In the last two years, IPA has been partnering with the government in the evolution of a patent regime that balances the TRIPs obligations with the national interest and engaged it in a constructive dialogue to move to price management from price control regime. IPA has also had an active role in the efforts to upgrade drug regulatory provisions, procedures and standards in conformity with the developed markets, the release adds.