Torrent Pharma, the Ahmedabad-based pharmaceuticals major, has launched AzuCa, its new super-specialty diabetology division. AzuCa will spearhead the company's strategy of sharpening focus on one of the fastest growing disorders, diabetes mellitus. AzuCa will become operational by April 2006 with over 300 new sales force and will service approximately 25000 doctors across India.

"Diabetes is becoming an area of prime focus for Torrent Pharma. Currently we own 2 % of the Oral Hypoglycaemic Agents (OHA) market, which is valued at Rs. 780 crore. AzuCa is designed to strengthen our position and increase our market share to 15-20% in the OHA segment within 3 years," said Sujesh Vasudevan, vice president marketing, Torrent Pharma.

AzuCa will be backed by the strength of the Torrent's advanced R&D capabilities, which boasts of a state-of- the-art infrastructure and 525 scientists with a combined experience of around 3000 scientific man-years. Of the seven research projects currently in pipeline, three are focussed on diabetes, informs the company release.

The first of them is Torrent Pharma's patented advanced glycosylation end-products (AGE) breaker compound, which has great potential for the treatment of diabetes related vascular and cardiac complications. This proprietary molecule has the promise of a block-buster in the offing. The second project is on DPP-IV inhibitors (a new class of anti diabetic drugs), which is in the preclinical stage. The project will enter phase-1 trials soon. The third diabetes-related R&D project, which is on PTP-1b inhibitors (another novel- approach anti-diabetic therapy), is in the lead identification stage.

"AzuCa is the new sweet taste of care. It is designed to satisfy all the unmet needs of diabetologists, endocrinologists and cardiologists and will offer them an enriching experience like never before," said Ruchir Modi, general manager, AzuCa division.

India has an estimated 35 million diabetics which is likely to increase to 40 million by 2010 and 74 million by 2025.