Micro Labs Ltd, Karnataka's largest pharmaceutical company has launched its new ophthalmology division, Micro Lumira. The products for the division will be manufactured at Micro Labs' state-of-the-art eye drop facility at Bommasandra which is Asia's largest set up with an investment of Rs 70 crore.

The facility has been designed in line with the world's quality accreditation requirements of different regulatory bodies like US FDA, UK MHRA, etc. The capacity of the unit is four lakh bottles of ophthalmic preparations a day. The facility has latest technology with best equipment Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Japan etc. Some of the equipments are- Form Fill Seal, 3 PC filling/Stoppering, Vial and AMP Filling, Washer /Tunnel and Sealing, HPCL etc. The facility runs with zero human intervention during the process.

With the new division, the company has increased the number of divisions in its portfolio from 12 to 13. This is a strategic move by the organization keeping in mind the potential size of eye care market. The division will be headed by S Rajagopalan, president.

Micro Lumira has been launched with an objective to offer wide range of ophthalmic medications across all therapeutic segments at an affordable cost. Micro Labs already has a presence in Ophthalmology segment through its existing division Micro Vision. However, the company intends to become the third largest player in eye care market by the end of the year and eventually No 1 by 2010. In line with this objective, Micro Lumira is strategically placed to enable Micro Labs garner a greater market share in ophthalmology market.

According to Dilip Surana, managing director, Micro Labs Ltd., "Eye care market has vast, untapped potential. We bring a unique proposition to our stakeholders by providing world class medicines manufactured at our facility at Bommasandra at affordable prices. Micro Lumira will bring us closer to achieving our mission of becoming the No 1 player in eye care market."

The new division will have a trained and motivated sales force that will introduce newer eye care formulations to various ophthalmologists across the country. Through this vast network of 'Feet on Street', we intend to achieve threefold increase in our sales in the next three years."

The 24-year-old Micro Labs Ltd is a vertically integrated company founded by G C Surana. Its therapeutic segments consists of analgesics, Antipuretics, anti-diabetes, antibiotics, antibacterials, cardiovascular, dermatology, antibacterials, neuropsychiatry, nutraceuticals, ophthalomology and stomatologicals. It has 13 international accredited manufacturing facilities that manufacture oral solids, oral liquids, topicals to injectables in India and abroad.