 ABL Biotech's pharma division
Invia Health, the new pharmaceutical division of ABL Biotechnologies Ltd, is launching a basket of products that addresses the comprehensive management of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and gastro-intestinal disorders. These will be strictly prescription drugs, sold through chemist outlets, said K O Isaac, chairman and managingh director of ABL Biotechnologies Ltd, in
Chennai.
"We have developed a strong bonding with the healthcare sector over the last few years. Through the launch of Invia Health, our pharmaceutical division, we will become more focused on the needs of clinicians and patients," said Isaac.
For management of type-II diabetes, Invia Health is introducing oral hypoglycemic agents to start with, which will help clinicians fine tune the management of the disease to the individual needs of the patients. Glimepiride (GLIMOD), Glimepiride with Metformin (GLIMOD-M) and Pioglitazone with Metformin (GLYSENSE) are some of the OHAs in the basket apart from Eunerv & Eunerv-B which will help manage diabetic neuropathy.
The 'Vascularly Yours' portfolio recognises the fact that the vascular endothelium is not an inert tissue but, probably, the largest endocrine organ of the body, secreting various chemokines. In addressing this, Invia Health is launching Atorvastatin (Zator), Fenofibrate with Atorvastatin (Zator -F) and Ezetimibe with Atorvastatin (Zator-E). Clopidogrel (Flogrel) and Clopidogrel with Aspirin (Flogrel AS) are also part of the initial launch. Overall, the 'Vascularly Yours' portfolio will address the maintenance of vascular health and will continue to evolve depending on the emerging needs of clinicians and patients as well as based on inputs from our in-house research, Isaac said.
Probably due to changes in dietary habits and an inability to handle stress and work through it, G I related disorders like GERD and non-ulcer dyspepsia are increasing. Fluxirid SR (Rabeprazole with sustained release domperidone) will help clinicians to provide relief to patients faster. Salubact, the 'synbiotic' from Invia Health, will also help leverage the beneficial effect of the gut microsystem. Invia Health, will stay tuned to the changing needs of the clinicians as well as the emerging ailment patters for fine tuning its product portfolio. Research will also focus on new molecules that will help address disease entities effectively.
ABL Biotechnologies Ltd, a publicly held, technology intensive company established in 1991, focuses on bio-manufacturing, identification and isolation of marine microbial metabolites of therapeutic value and bio-process engineering. Over the last few years, ABL Biotechnologies Ltd has also evolved into a product development and
manufacturing company that services a large segment of the Indian pharmaceutical industry with unique formulations developed in-house.
It has a good insight on the emerging healthcare needs of the domestic as well as international markets. The new therapeutic leads that ABL Biotechnologies Ltd has been working on are in different stages of development prior to commercialisation. Apart from the existing strategic partnerships with institutions of advanced research, ABL Biotechnologies Ltd is also continuously looking at alliances that will add synergy to its business process. The future breakthroughs in disease management will come when biotechnology, therapeutics, genetics and pharmacogenomics coalesce. That is where ABL Biotechnologies Ltd sees its edge, Isaac claimed.
The launch of Invia Health, ABL's pharmaceutical division, therefore is well thought through concentric diversification of the existing business process. This will help the company move up the value chain - from developing formulations for the healthcare industry to marketing its own formulations to the healthcare fraternity.
Over the last few years, India has witnessed a significant increase in lifestyle diseases. This tilt in disease profile and the growing emphasis on quality of life as well as preventive care is forcing companies to realign their product portfolios. A high degree of consolidation has also left the industry lean and hungry for the post-patent challenges. The Indian pharmaceutical industry is expected to record a quantum leap from Rs 20,400 crore to Rs 75,000 crore in the next five years. The Rs 16,800 crore Indian pharma exports is expected to cross the Rs 25,000 crore mark in the next three years, Isaac said.
R Rangaraj
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