GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals would soon finalize a co-marketing deal with Novartis India by in licensing the latter's one of the premium brands in the anti-fungal segment, Lamisil tablets, in India. The company, which is currently negotiating with Novartis on the co-marketing deal, is planning to launch this product by the end of the current financial year.

Lamisil 250 mg tablet, a patented product, is one of the costly and highly profitable product of Novartis worldwide targeting the upper class patient group. According to industry sources, GSK believes that the product, if it launches in the Indian market, could become an important product to the fresh revenue plan.

Though the GSK India's official sources refused to comment on this in licensing move saying that "as a matter of Company policy we do not comment on speculative reports," the industry sources confirmed that the companies are in the advance stage of negotiation. But clarity on how the company would succeed in negotiating with Novartis for terbinafine is yet to be emerged. In response to a Pharmabiz query, Novartis India also stated that as a policy the company does not comment on market speculation.

But, according to reliable sources in GSK India, the company's new products basket for the year 2003 includes Novartis's terbinafine brand as well. The sources informed that the company plans to launch four products during CY 2003. The products planned for launch includes Chewable Calcium for children, which will be positioned against Calcium Sandoz of Novartis Consumer Health, a line extension of multivitamin Glace (both are nutritional products). The other two products are a Combination of Citrizine and Ambroxol, an anti allergic product and the Terbinafine tablet 250 mg.

The sources said that most of the these products are expected to be launched towards the later part of the year as the contribution from these products would not be significant in the year 2003 for the company.

According to pharma analysts, since GSK has a much better marketing strength in the field of dermatology than Novartis, the co-marketing arrangement with GSK for the product may beneficial for both the companies. Lamisil 250 mg tablet is currently marketed by Novartis at Rs 1247 per 14 tabs pack. Since it is comparatively costly product, the companies would be targeting only the urban market.