Meyer Organics, a subsidiary of multi-national company Vitabiotics Ltd. UK, is investing Rs 147 crore ($30 million) to set up a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Bangalore. The facility is coming up next to its existing unit in Bangalore at Peenya Industrial Area.

"It is a modern pharma plant for which we have purchased land. This unit will cater to our growing export market," Tej Lalvani, senior vice president, Vitabiotics Ltd told Pharmabiz.

Its existing facility in Bangalore manufactures liquids, tablets, capsules and ointments and is being regularly upgraded to increase production capacity.

Meyer has launched many innovative nutrient concepts for the first time in India. These include a non hormonal nutrient formulation, Menopace, to treat pre-menopausal symptoms, which created a new segment in Indian pharma market. Its calcium supplementation through a preparation, Calcimax has all the essential factors for optimum calcium utilization and better bone mineralization. In fact, this drug changed the way calcium formulations were made in India. Diabetone is a specialty nutrient supplement for diabetics, which helps to improve glycaemic control and overall metabolism. Jointace is an anti-osteoarthritis brand with dosage advantage marketed at an affordable price. Gastracid is a sugar free, aluminium free and Sodium free antacid.

The company is also known for its paediatric preparations covering a wide range of therapeutic segments which are prepared without using artificial colours and flavours.

"We are leaders in anti osteoarthritis, calcium oral solids, anti obesity, menopause management and paediatric nutrient care. We have a strong presence in only two of the top 10 Therapy and 75 per cent of the sales comes from these two therapy areas. These are vitamins and pain management. Indian market size of the two segments are valued at Rs.4, 800 crore in India," stated Lalvani.

The 38-year-old Vitabiotics is present in over 108 countries. It has won several awards including the Queen's Award for Enterprise both in 2003 and 2008 besides the DTI Innovation award 2005 and E&Y Entrepreneur Award 2008.

Meyer is rated as one of the fastest growing pharmaceutical company in India. In the last four years, its ranking has gone up from 90 to 55 in IPM with a compounded annual growth rate of 38 per cent. Its sales force of 1200 personnel meet about 1.70 lakh doctors and 900 stockists service about two lakh chemists in the country.

"For the future, the company is looking to increase its presence form the current two therapy areas: Vitamins/minerals/nutraceutical and pain management which is just 17 per cent of the Indian pharma market. We have still scope to increase our market share in these therapy areas," said Lalvani.