GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd (GSK) and Eisai Pharmaceuticals India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Eisai Co. Ltd., Japan entered a co- promotion agreement for launching Paritec (rabeprazole sodium) in India. Paritac is a proton pump inhibitor and is approved for the treatment of acid related disorders like peptic ulcer, reflux gastric disorders (GERD).

Eisai is the first ever Japanese company to enter the Indian market in collaboration with GSK. GSK’s earlier product, Zantac (used for gastrointestinal disorders) is one of the largest selling brands in the country.

“GSK has a strong presence in the gastro- intestinal market and enjoys immense goodwill among the medical fraternity on account of Zantac. But, Zantec has attained maturity and therefore there is a need to introduce a new generation product. Therefore, GSK in collaboration with Eisai has decided to launch Paritec. In rabeprazole, we will have an excellent molecule that will effectively fulfill unmet patient needs and will allow us offer a product in a high growth market segment,” said, S. Kalyansundaram, managing director, GSK, India.

Paritec is a second generation drug that provides faster acid control and has highest acid inhibiting factor. It also has faster healing and symptom relief.

Hideshi Honda, Corporate Officer and Vice President (Global Pharma Business) Eisai Co.Ltd. said, “As a leading research based Japanese company, we studied the Indian market and decided to launch Paritec (rabeprazole), one of our global blockbusters with worldwide sales of 132 billion yen.”

Eisai Co Ltd was founded in 1941 in Tokyo and the first Japanese pharma firm to enter in India. Eisai has recorded sales of US$ 4.96 billion during the year 2004 and earned operating profit of $807 million. The company spend around $ 728 on R&D.

While talking to reporters, Honda told that we had decided to enter India with a view that low manufacturing cost, high expertise quality and IPR compliant country would give necessary boost to their business and Globalisation strategy.

Deepak Naik, managing director of Eisai Pharma. India Pvt Ltd, said that Eisai is highly R&D based company and has two blockbuster brands like Aricept and Pariet.