Solvay Pharma India Ltd. plans to launch Influvac, a vaccine for the prevention of influenza, in the current year. The company shall continue to look for organic and inorganic opportunities in its strategic areas. The current year shall also see the company launching Creon 25000 for the treatment of pancreatic enzyme insufficiency. At the beginning of the month, Colospa retard, a drug for the treatment of IBS was launched by the company.

Addressing the 7th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company, Roland Kaut, chairman, said that the company registered over 11 per cent growth in the year, and over 14 per cent, excluding Karvol from 2004 financials. The growth was achieved despite the heavy loss of sales in the first quarter of 2005 due to introduction of VAT in most of the states. The performance is also commendable when viewed against the industry growth of 6 per cent. The growth is volume driven and equitable in the sense that all the major products of the company have registered good growth.

The company has undertaken a project for introducing an Electronic Territory Management Systems for its field members that would further support company's growth initiatives and objectives of a sustainable and profitable growth. Solvay would look for acquisitions and in- licensing opportunities in the current year.

The company website was launched in the last quarter of 2005. Solvay group, the promoter- parent, acquired Fournier Pharma, a French company last year, thus continuing its focus on pharmaceutical business. Solvay Pharma India does not profit directly from this global acquisition, as Fournier was not present in India. The company is presently evaluating the possibility of introducing some of its products in India. Solvay group sees Asia as its focus area for future. Solvay holds 68.85 per cent equity in the company through its group entities.