Hindustan Latex Limited (HLL), the largest contraceptive manufacturing public sector undertaking in the country, will introduce a package of 12 products and 22 variants, in the year 2006, brought out by the women's health care pharma division of HLL.

The products will help the division to target overseas markets through its international business unit.

As the part of the corporate expansion plan eyeing a turnover target of Rs. 1000 crore in the year 2010, HLL's pharma division launched Novex 30mg (ormeloxifene), Novex DS 60 mg (for dysfunctional uterine bleeding), Arpan (combined oral contraceptive), Preventol (emergency contraceptive), Ferroplus (iron and folic acid), T-Care (Iucd), sutures, Confirmit (pregnancy test card) and Medigard gloves. Desogest (progesterone only pill), MIFEPRO and M-Prost (for medical termination of pregnancy) will be launched by February 2006.

The company has identified 8 other new products for 2006. Tranexamic acid and its combination with mefanemic acid for dysfunctional uterine bleeding, Clomin 100mg and 50mg (ovulation inducers), Clomin 25mg for male sterility, Doxil (doxyl amine) for pregnancy vomiting, iron , xalcium and folic acid for nutritional supplementation during pregnancy and lactation, anti spasmodics to control spasm during painful menstruation, flucanazole for vaginal fungal infections are the molecules identified for the year 2006.

HLL has short-listed five new variants of IUCDs including memory IUD. These will be introduced in collaboration with AIMU Medical Science and Technology Ltd., Anshan, China.

The company has started manufacturing trial batches of ARV formulations at its Kangala factory.

"At present 6 formulations are being developed. We are trying to make the formulations affordable to the patients and are likely to launch the products by August 2006," P.N. Menon, head of women's health care pharma division told Pharmabiz.

The women's healthcare pharma division has been launched in 2005 to cater to the reproductive healthcare needs of women of all age groups. The division will target the contraceptive, onco and uro gynaecology, pregnancy and lactation, osteoporosis and HRT segments. During 2006, HLL will enter natural products segment and will launch products through both women's healthcare pharma and consumer business divisions.

Menon said that the company would also utilise the opportunity for marketing imported APIs such as levonorgestrel and ethinyl oestradiol.

"HLL has also plans to accelerate export of its non-steroidal contraceptive ormeloxifene by registration in more countries abroad. Ormeloxifene developed by CDRI and manufactured from the basic stage by HLL, holds vast scope as a safe once a week contraceptive," added Menon.

The company has commissioned the bulk drug plant for ormeloxifene - the active ingredient for its non-hormonal once a week contraceptive pill- Saheli in 2004, at its Belgaum production facility. This is expected to meet the production requirements for Saheli in the markets all over the country. Current production requirement of Saheli is 20 million tablets.

The company also has plans to expand its R&D facility at Kanagala plant, by developing infrastructure. HLL's expansion plans also include the introduction of mobile clinics in more remote villages under mobile health clinic project. At present, two mobile clinics are working at the hill district of Chamoli in Uttaranchal and Tehri Garhwal district.

In 2005, the company commenced manufacturing various grades of polypropylene and poly glycolic acid (absorbable) surgical sutures, at its high-tech manufacturing facility at Akkulam in Thiruvananthapuram.

To achieve economies of scale and to become the global leader in the production of condoms, HLL has begun its work on augmenting its condom production capacity by another 230 million pieces. With this, HLL's condom production capacity will cross the 1 million mark.

The company achieved its highest turnover, Rs. 195 crore, and a profit of Rs. 20.11 crores, after tax in the year 2004-05. The turnover marked a growth of 20%, compared to the previous year. The company's direct marketing registered 34% growth at Rs. 51 crore and the foreign exchange earnings of the company touched Rs. 13.54 crore, this year.