Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd has entered into an agreement with Tasly, one of China's largest pharma companies, to exclusively market their blockbuster drug, cardio-tonic pill, in India.

Cardiotonic is sold globally in 13 countries, including USA. The US FDA approved drug has sales of USD 360 million globally with USD 30 million in USA alone, besides being the highest selling single medicine in China, with sales of over USD 160 million, a company release said.

The company believes it has a potential blockbuster on its hands and expects to prop its top line with sales of around 20 crore within 2 years of its launch.

Cardiotonic is a novel oral droplet formulation based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine theory used for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases like Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), diabetes and hypertension. It is made from a unique combination of pure extracts of three Chinese medicinal herbs, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Radix Notoginseng and Bormel. Cardiotonic is manufactured with modern pharmaceutical technology and strict quality control procedures. The innovative droplet pill formulation offers many clinical advantages such as low dosage, rapid and complete absorption, fast onset of action, high potency with few side effects, and convenience.

According to Ruchir Modi, Head Strategic Marketing, of the company, "All current cardio-diabeta (C and D) therapies prescribe a wide array of add-ons like Vitamin E, Folic acid and neurogenic supplements. Cardiotonic will be positioned as a single add on solution in cardiovascular disorders for all Cardiologists, Diabetologists and consultant Physicians and will do away with the need for multiple add-ons. It will be the most preferred, "add on" therapy in CV disorders."

He also adds that this in-licensing deal is first of its kind in India in the traditional medicine segment. Torrent Pharma will be exploring more such exclusive avenues in the medium to long term wherein the Company gets the sole license to market such products.

Cardiotonic Pill finds perfect synergy with the company's dominant position in the Indian C and D market. The company is ranked 2nd in the cardiology market with a growth rate of around 15 per cent and is one of the fastest growing companies in India in the oral anti-diabetic therapy segment. The company was the first to launch global blockbusters like Atenolol, Rosiglitazone and Repaglinide in India and enjoys market leadership in many brands in the cardiology segment.

Cardiotonic Pill is just one of the many potentially blockbuster products in the portfolio of OMEGA, the company's new specialty division that focuses on the Cardio metabolic diseases, with exclusive focus on cardiology, diabetes and nephrology.

The deal comes at a time when India is poised to become the country with the largest number of patients suffering from cardio-vascular diseases. According to WHO, India will have 57 million diabetics by 2025 and the prevalence of other associated diseases is going to increase in similar fashion. Currently, 7 per cent of Indians suffer from various cardio-vascular diseases, 4 per cent are diabetics and 7 per cent are hypertensives.