Neuropsychiatry market, which is currently on the upswing in India, is expected to be one of the fastest growing therapeutic segments in post 2005. The growth in this segment is mainly on account of the current therapy gaps, poor patient compliance and absence of biotech drugs.

In India, the market for neuropsychiatry and central nervous system drugs is valued at Rs. 800 crore with a growth rate of 12 per cent which is much higher than the overall growth of the pharmaceutical sector. The neuro psychiatry segment covers drugs for psychiatry, depression and epilepsy. The anti epileptic drugs constitute Rs. 285 crore, anti depressants amount to Rs. 185 crore and the remaining products are in the anti psychotic category which include those for the central nervous system. Worldwide, out the ten top brands, three brands (2 anti depressants and 1 anti epileptic) are from the neuro psychiatry segment. Globally, neuropsychiatry category is known to be the second fastest growing segment after cardiovascular-diabetology drugs.

In Karnataka, Micro Labs, Lundbeck and Zydus Neurosciences are dedicated players in the segment from the State and company officials are optimistic about the growth which can be sustained because of the therapy gaps attributed largely due to the faulty genes.

Micro Labs, which is one among the top players in the country under the neuro psychiatry category, plans to launch six drugs in the anti epileptic and anti depression category in 2003.

"We are keen to have a bigger share of the pie in the neuropsychiatry market. The objective is to increase the prescription base in the segment," S Sudheendra, vice president, sales & marketing, Micro Labs told Pharmabiz.com.

Micro Labs has two dedicated divisions 'Synapse' and 'Syncro' that deals with anti depressants, anti panic, neuro-protectives, antipsychotics, anti-epileptics/anti maniacs, anti-Parkinson, and sedatives/hypnotics formulations. The two divisions, which have registered a growth rate 30 per cent in March 2002-March 2003 hope to fuel further growth with new molecules, Sudheendra informed.

Synapse was started in 1997 with the introduction of 13 products and Syncro commenced operations in 2001. Today, the two divisions share 34 products in the neuropsychiatry segment. "The aim is to provide a broad base of drugs between the two divisions," said Sudheendra.

For Micro Labs the fastest growing products are in the anti epileptic segment and anti depressant segment. The antidepressant drugs find broad usage not only in the specific neuropsychiatry disorders but in other diseases like gastroenterology, oncology, cardiovascular and gynecology.

The brands and molecules in the neuropsychiatry segment show both volume and value because the product launches are at a faster pace. Anti depressant molecules are expected to find more usage in the years to come. Pharma companies in the country are keen to capitalise the opportunity as the segment is evolving and the awareness is being built-up. There is ample proof that medication has provided the much-needed relief for the disorders, informed Manohar Pai, product manager of Synapse.

Lundbeck India Pvt. Ltd, the 100 percent Indian subsidiary of H Lundbeck, Denmark, A/S in Bangalore is the only pharmaceutical enterprise in the world, dedicated to the treatment of central nervous system diseases. The company's products profile includes drugs for the treatment of depression, psychoses, migraine and sleep disorders. In 2002 the company turnover exceeded DKK 9.5 billion.

The company is one of the first to introduce selective Serotonin Reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for the treatment of depression. The SSRI, Cipramil (Citalopram) was launched in 1989 for major depressive disorders (MDD). Lundbeck has recently launched in the world market the S-enantiomer Cipralex / Lexapro for MDD and panic disorders.

Mammen Mathew, managing director, Lundbeck India Pvt. Ltd. said that India being a key growth market, the company has expanded its presence here rapidly to ensure that new product releases are almost in tune with the international launches. "In the next three years, new products for depression, Alzheimer and Schizophrenia are expected," he said.

Lundbeck India has also initiated a programme- "Art in Psychiatry" which is a display of creative works by the mentally ill patients added Pradeep K Bharadwaj, product manager.

Officials at Zydus Neurosciences, a Bangalore based outfit conveyed that a dedicated division by the Ahmedabad-based Zydus Group only goes to show the potential of the segment in the years to come. Neuropsychiatry drugs are rapidly entering the pharmaceutical space because the diseases under the segment are chronic and prone to relapses.

The segment was neglected in the past because medical practitioners had a poor understanding of what caused the disease. There were only few drugs and more diseases, said a panel of neurologists and psychiatrists from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences(NIMHANS), Bangalore. "Today neuropsychiatry is experiencing a boom with a slew of companies like Sun Pharma, Torrent, Abbott, Novartis, Nicholas Piramal, Intas, Ranbaxy, Unichem and Cipla, spearheading business initiatives in the segment and provide a choice of drugs," they added.