Phloem Pharmaceuticals engaged in plant based formulations development is scouting for acquisitions in overseas and in domestic markets. The move will enable the company to take it to the next level of growth.

The company is currently exporting a range of the plant based formulations in capsules and tablet forms to the CIS countries and Latin America among other emerging markets.

The Bangalore-based company is located in the Yelankha Industrial Area. It invested over Rs. 4 crore last year to set up a full-fledged research and development facility . It has developed range of around 20 plant-based formulations which are produced under contract manufacture. Its international customers have evinced considerable interest for its products, Trishna Roy, director, Phloem Pharmaceuticals told Pharmabiz.

“We need to now seek avenues of growth both in the international and Indian market. Therefore we have opted for an inorganic growth strategy. Going by the preference for natural medicines, plant based formulations are the future in modern therapies. In fact the demand for plant medicines are gaining considerable momentum in terms of acceptance. This is where we have chosen formulations with proven efficacy and safety. We ensure quality standards are adhered to from the raw material stage, process development to finished products,” she added.

The focus areas of lifestyle disorders include diabetes and cholesterol, urinary tract infection, gingivitis, blood purifiers and anti oxidants to name a few.

Some of the notable brands from Phloem Pharmaceuticals are Floliv which contains Kutki and Amla is an hepato protective for jaundice and alcohol induced hepatitis, Immunoflo contains Shatavari, Guduchi and Haridra and is prescribed for respiratory tract infection, Arthoflo contains Boswella and Guggul is for arthritis.

The company’s pilot plant is cGMP compliant. The facility with a research centres has a team of doctors and scientists. The company is also capable to carry out contract research and pilot scale manufacture. With India emerging as a market of opportunities based on the qualified scientific teams, state-of-the-art infrastructure and dependable time line deliveries, the effort is to capture sizable share of the international orders. Therefore there will be more investments coming up going by our ability to expand the business, stated Roy.

The growing demand for disease prevention and well being covering products from anti oxidants to immune-stimulants and geriatric disorders, will drive the market to increase the number of quality players, she said.

Since plant based formulations comes under the nutraceutical segment, the size of the sector is valued at Rs. 3,000 in India and growing at 12 per cent annually.