Wockhardt Ltd has set up its sales & marketing subsidiary Wockhardt USA Inc in US, which will facilitate the business development activities of the company in the world’s largest pharmaceutical market.

Arthur Maher, a marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in the generic pharmaceutical industry has been appointed as president, sales & marketing of the company.

“We are seeking an exponential growth in our US business over the next few years,” Wockhardt chairman Habil Khorakiwala said. “Towards this end, we are beefing up the research and development, manufacturing, regulatory and legal infrastructure in India, and establishing a sales and marketing organisation in the US.”

More than 150 professionals at various levels at Wockhardt in India are supporting the company’s US generics business by working on non-infringing technologies, filing ANDAs (abbreviated new drug applications) and liaising with US regulatory bodies.

The company has also relocated Dr. Sanjay Patel, president, corporate scientific affairs, from India to US. He will guide Wockhardt’s scientific and technical affairs in India, Europe and the US. Ramesh Sesha, senior vice president, Intellectual Property, has also been relocated to the US office.

“With the growing consolidation in the US generics business, buyers now have fewer companies to deal with,” said Maher. “The market is looking for new players with good credentials. Indian companies are now as much known for their quality as for their cost-effective prices.”

Wockhardt currently markets ranitidine, enalapril, bethanecol chloride and captopril four products in the US. The company has filed six new ANDAs with the US FDA last year and plans to file 15 ANDAs this year.