JB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd is all set to launch its Zecuf range of cough lozenges in the South East Asian markets comprising of countries like Malaysia, Philippines and Myanmar. The company also has plans to launch the lozenges in Sri Lanka, Iraq and Algeria.

The company will manufacture the lozenges in India and later export to these countries. Eyeing this market only, JB decided to construct a Rs 25 crore facility at Daman having the capacity to manufacture about five crore lozenges a year. The capacity will begin production in the first half of the 2003.

"We are planning to give a special thrust to the South East Asian region. Although we are doing business here, hereon the business expansion in the region will be part of JB's focus," said Shirish Modi, Director, JBCPL.

The company is eyeing a business of about Rs 6-7 crore in the first year after the launch. A chain of stockists in these countries will market the company's products.

Zecuf is the renamed version of the company's Doktor Mom range of cough and cold products consisting of lozenges, balms and cold rub products. Doktor Mom, JBCPL's star brand caters predominantly to the Russian and CIS markets.

Excluding lozenges, JBCPL has already launched its Zecuf range of cold products in Malaysia and Philippines. "Also, the company exports its Dicloran (diclofenac), Nicardia (nefidipine), Metrogyl (metronidazole) and Rantac (rantidine) in a good way," said Dr Milind Joshi, Corporate Manager, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Operations.

However, for the Iraq and Algerian markets, Zecuf lozenges will be the first formulation entry from JBCPL. "So far we have been only exporting bulk actives in Iraq and Algeria. After the lozenges launch, we will be introducing our other Zecuf range of cough and cold products in the region," said Mody.

JBCPL recently won the Reader's Digest "Most Trusted European Brand 2002" award for Doktor Mom. The success of Doktor Mom was recognised and confirmed in an independent readership survey conducted by respected, popular international magazine, Reader`s Digest, when consumers across Russia voted Doktor Mom as the Most Trusted European Brand 2002, amongst cold and cough remedies segment.