Elder Pharmaceuticals has discovered a novel drug delivery system (NDDS) for a nutracuetical formulation Coenzyme Q(10) [CO Q10]. The discovery of this product makes Elder the first company in the world to launch this nutraceutical in a novel form.

So far, COQ10 products were available mostly as soft-gel capsules or as tablets. Elder has developed a chewable form of CO Q10- offering optimum dose of 100 mg per tablet making it more palatable and acceptable to patient population thereby expanding the market for the same.

Launched through the ethical route under the brand name of Ecozyme, this nutraceutical helps build immunity and is effective in fighting cardiovascular diseases, neurogenerative diseases particularly Parkinsons, alzheimer's, migraine, hypertension and diabetes etc. The company is targeting sales of about Rs 30 crore by 2012.

Alok Saxena, director, Elder Pharmaceuticals informed that the technology in developing the chewable form of COQ10 is a unique technology and Elder is in the process of filing for worldwide patents.

Elder Pharma already has a major presence in the nutraceutical market with a range of products like Eldervit ZC, Nephrocaps, IMBRAN from Daiwa of Japan, Elmecob and Phytomega from Enzymotec of Israel.