Eisai Pharmaceuticals India Private Ltd., launched today as the Indian subsidiary of the Japanese pharma major, Eisai Co Ltd., is planning to launch new products in the gastroenterology and CNS segments within one year in India.
“We have completed all the trails for our molecules in gastroenterology (clevudin) and CNS (Myonel and Zonegarn) and are waiting for official nod. The products are expected to be launched within one year. Our other molecules in oncology segment are under trails,” Deepak A Naik, Managing director of Eisai India told Pharmabiz.
Speaking at the official launch of Eisai India, he mentioned that Eisai India has plans to expand the market for the products — Parit and Aricep—which were already launched in India. The company is also planning to increase the number of clinical trails of their molecules in India.
Recently, Eisai India signed a co-promotion agreement with GSK India to market Parit (rabeprazole sodium), Eisai’s new generation PPI (Proton Pump inhibitor) for gastric disorders. The company has also made alliance with Wockhardt for the manufacture of its Alzheimers drug Aricept (donepezil hydrochloride tablets) in India. Wockhardt will be manufacturing the drug in India on behalf of Eisai, which will be marketed exclusively by Eisai India in the country. Aricept is the second product that Wockhardt will be manufacturing in the country for Eisai, after Methycobal (mecobalamine) in India. Wockhardt also markets Methycobal in the country.
Soichi Matsuno, managing director, global pharmaceutical business, Eisai, while speaking to the media during his visit to launch Eisai Pharma India, said, “In Eisai, we look at India as much more than just a consuming market. We look at this country as huge resources for our global market. We are aware of India’s strong talent pool and capabilities in synthetic chemistry, manufacturing and clinical trials. We are actively evaluating the feasibility to carry out these activities in India. We have already started doing global clinical trials in India in 3 centres.”
In view of the critical situation that around 21 lakh of India’s elderly population suffering from dementia, Eisai India has set up a specialized force to generate awareness in community, offer up-to-date information and screening tools to doctor, and develop memory clinics to offer treatment and education to patients and their family members. One such memory clinic, supported by Eisai, was inaugurated by Soichi Matsuno today at LTM medical college & general hospital, Sion, Mumbai. Eisai is planning to open 30 more memory clinics in India within next two years.