Chennai based Indo-French Marketing will be marketing a new product, HEyFORTE, for treating male infertility which it claims is first-of-its-kind in the country. According to John Salvador, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the company, there are no products equivalent to HEyFORTE currently in the market for treating male infertility.

"There is a need for this product in the country, developed by the company's in-house R&D. It is useful for treatment of male infertility where surgical procedures are not recommended. Further, it could be a good extended therapy where surgical procedures have been performed," Salvador pointed out.

The product, the company claims, is a cellular energizer and a super anti-oxidant. "The cellular energizer action not only makes its use for male infertility but also for cardiology and diabetology segments too. However, we are promoting the product, through the ethical route, currently as product for treatment of male infertility," said Salvador. He added, "The product while being aimed at treatment of male infertility can also be used for treatment of erectile dysfunction."

The product contains coenzyme Q10, vitamin E acetate, l-arginine, zinc (elemental) and selenium. The combination of these ingredients for developing a product has been done for the first time in the country. The product can offer a remedy in indications such as idiopathic oligospermia and idiopathic astheniospermia. "It is a natural way of correcting vaso constriction, which means it can be useful in erectile dysfunction due to vaso constriction. There are no side affects, a major USP for the product," Salvador maintained.

The product is to be manufactured by J's Laboratories, at its facility in Velachery, Chennai. The product is to hit the retail shelf packed in boxes containing 10 strips of 10 tablets each (10 X10). Priced at Rs.1300 per box, the product will be promoted through andrologists, urologists and gynaecologists involved in treatment of male infertility.

"There is a Rs.70 to Rs.80 crore market for male infertility treatment in the country, developed over the last few years. We have the head start and we are going to cash onto it," said Salvador, adding that the company has launched the product in the southern states barring Kerala besides Maharashtra, Orissa and West Bengal. He further added that the company expects to sell 5000 boxes in the next fiscal thus foreseeing the product contributing to almost 30 per cent of the company's total revenue target for the next fiscal.

The company is also looking at exporting the product. It has already exported a consignment to Sri Lanka where the company has a direct marketing team.

Indo-French Marketing is expected to register a turnover of Rs. 11 crore for the current fiscal, informed Salvador.