E-DRUG: Ranbaxy to foray into anti-AIDS drugs market
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[crossposted from Pharm-policy with thanks. More Indian
competition on the international HIV-drug market can only
be welcomed. NN]
This is a big deal. Ranbaxy is an important company that already sells
products globally. The competition between Ranbaxy, CIPLA and producers
from Brazil and other countries should lead to further reductions in
prices, and greater choice in terms of products. Jamie
http://www.economictimes.com/today/21comp05.htm
Wednesday Feb 21 2001
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Ranbaxy to foray into anti-AIDS drugs mkt
Gauri Kamath
MUMBAI
THE MARKET for anti-AIDS drugs will soon see a new entrant. Ranbaxy
Laboratories, India�s largest pharmaceutical company by sales, will
market its brand of anti-viral drugs in the country a few months from
now.
The market for AIDS drugs is currently dominated by Cipla, which is the
only local company to sell anti-AIDS formulations.
Ranbaxy�s regional director for India and the Middle East, S D Kaul,
confirmed to the Economic Times that there were plans to launch a clutch
of anti-AIDS drugs like lamivudine, nevirapine, abacavir and indinavir.
Cipla has by far been the most aggressive player in the domestic
anti-AIDS drugs market. It has cut prices of its brands several times
since their launch stealing the thunder from Glaxo India whose parent
firm GlaxoSmithKline holds patents for some of these drugs and who has
been unable to match the price cuts locally.
For instance, Cipla recently brought down prices of a triple drug
regimen � comprising of lamivudine, zidovudine and nevirapine � to Rs
6,780 per month from Rs 11,400 per month in March last year.
Ranbaxy is also expected to use price as the major instrument in the war
for marketshare. The company is looking at leveraging technology to cut
through various levels of trade and reaching the consumer directly.
This is expected to eliminate trade margins normally factored into the
price. A package of other value-added services could also be associated
with Ranbaxy�s brand of AIDS drugs.
Vorin Laboratories, a Hyderabad-based bulk drugs manufacturer and a
Ranbaxy subsidiary will make the bulk drugs, to be converted into
finished dosage forms at Ranbaxy�s manufacturing unit in Dewas in Madhya
Pradesh.
The potential for AIDS drugs in the country is huge. According to UNAIDS
data, with 3.7 million patients living with HIV and AIDS, India is
second in the world.
Ranbaxy�s foray into the market comes at a time when Cipla is actively
lobbying with the international community to bring pressure to bear upon
multinational patent holders of AIDS drugs in the African continent -�
most afflicted by the HIV virus -� so that they allow Cipla to sell
their cheaper, generic versions in those countries.