Parabolic Drugs Ltd., a leading research-led Indian pharmaceuticals company, has been granted 'Certificate of Suitability' (COS) for its key molecule cefixime in the European Union (EU). The COS is recognized by various signatory states of the European Pharmacopoeia Convention, the European Union and few non-member countries.

Cefixime is one of top selling products for the company and the COS would enable the company to expand its presence in regulated markets. The company has a European GMP certified cephalosporin manufacturing site at Derabassi, with an annual production capacity over 700 tonnes.

Cefixime, an oral third generation cephalosporin antibiotic, has a world market size of USD 839 million (September 2010, IMS) growing at 20.9 per cent annually. The molecule is growing across the world for its basic use in the treatment of gonorrhoea, tonsilitis and pharyngitis. The European market contributes to over 18 per cent in the total sales for this molecule.

The company earlier had three COS certificates for molecules - flucloxacillin sodium, amoxicillin trihydrate and cefuroxime axetil.

The company’s direct exports account for 32 per cent of the total revenues for 9MFY11, with exports to regulated markets comprising 32 per cent of the total exports.