Himalaya Drug Company has stepped up its impetus on research only to ensure that its pipeline of drugs for cancer, psoriasis, diabetes, nutraceuticals and oral care are expected to hit the market. The company sees these drug launches would begin in 2014 end and extend to early 2015-16.

The herbal drug major has been systematic to plough its profits back into R&D, infrastructure and human resources development. It has strengthened its animal health range from the current poultry, livestock and aquaculture products to cover feline and canine categories as Indian households are on a pet adoption mode.

It will also look to increase its presence in nutraceuticals bringing to the table a range of nutritional versions. Besides, the company is working to gain market share in the baby care segment where J&J continues to hold sway.

The company, which closed last fiscal with a turnover of Rs.1250 crore, has aimed to reach Rs.1,500 crore for the current year, and double this over the next four years. This will bring the company to 50 per cent of its billion dollar revenue plan. The remaining 50 per cent will be contributed from rest of the world. There are 5,000 employees at present across the nine business units and all of them would have a role to play in this growth story, Philipe Haydon, chief executive officer, The Himalaya Drug Company told Pharmabiz.

Himalaya has over 100 pharma products to offer such as tablets, capsules, syrups, liquids and ointments. For FY 2014, pharma and personal care products contributed 38 per cent each to the turnover. Baby care, animal health and nutraceuticals chipped in the rest.

“There is a huge opportunity in India for the herbal formulations and our success with Liv-52, Cystone, Septilin and Bonnisan besides Rumalaya is compelling us to tap the promising prospects in this market for chronic conditions like cancer, psoriasis and diabetes, besides developing a group of products for nutraceuticals and oral care,” he added

“In a prescription-driven market, we have been at the forefront and compete with brands in the modern medicine space and provide medical answers to surgical problems for certain conditions where our herbal drugs are adjuvant therapies including bone health. Therefore, our focus is clearly to provide particular products for specific ailments where the doctors would be able to prescribe and patients get the much-needed relief,” stated Haydon.

In 2012, in order to drive its preventive health initiative, the company entered the nutraceutical space with HiOwna for adults and HiOwna-Jr for children It has a slew of market ready products for kids, general health, diabetics, women, apart from specialised supplements for non-ambulatory patients and those with renal and liver disorders which are among its introductions which begin from the end of this year.