GlaxoSmithKline Pharma (GSK), a leader in the production of vaccines, plans to introduce wide range of vaccines in the domestic market. The company intends to grow its vaccines business in India and has taken on the challenge of combating diseases in the developing world. GSK is currently conducting clinical trials in India on vaccines against Rotavirus and Cervical cancer, as also on a combination vaccine to address DTP, hepatitis B and Polio.

One of the newer vaccines to be brought into India is Rotarix against Rota viral diarrhoea. The Rotavirus disease affects a vast majority of young children. This two dose oral vaccine has already reached the public market in Brazil and Panama and is expected to be registered in India within the next year. Cervarix, targeted against cervical cancer is another product to be launched by GSK in India. Cervarix is proposed to be registered in India in early 2008.

While addressing the company's Annual General Meeting, D S Parekh, chairman said that the company's sales for the first quarter ended March 2006 will be around Rs 400 crore as against Rs 276 crore in the corresponding period of last year. The sales for the last year were adversely impacted due to implementation of VAT. The company is set to achieve better performance with significant jump in profits in the current year. GSK launched four new products during 2005 and enjoying leadership position with market share of 6.5 per cent in India.

Parekh added that Boostrix, a DTPa booster for adolescents and adults, Infanrix Hexa, a DTP, HIB, Hep Biotech and iPV combination are among the few products to be launched by the company in the Indian market in the following year.

Further, the company is in the process of setting up a manufacturing facility at Nashik, adjacent to its factory for the packing and manufacture of certain vaccines. The facility is initially proposed to import these vaccines in bulk and pack them for Indian markets. S the technological capabilities of the site progresses, GSK will consider bringing more vaccines into the facility.