Diabetic drug co USV takes a shot at injectibles

MUMBAI: USV, the largest anti-diabetic drug maker in India, is planning to enter the injectibles segment. The company will inaugurate its first injectibles plant at Daman by September end.

���We will only be concentrating on the US and the European Union for our injectibles business. We will be filing 10 products in the US alone over the next three years,��� said USV MD Prashant Tiwari. The company is also expanding its API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) manufacturing capacity at its plant in Chiplun.

���We have invested Rs 50 crore in this expansion and expect the added capacity to contribute Rs 150 crore over the next 2-3 years, as various products that we are interested in, go off-patent. 2011 is going to be a big year for us,��� Mr Tiwari added.

USV has no plans to launch its injectibles segment in India, even though the domestic business contributes 68% of its revenue. ���This is because of the price difference. Already 30% of our domestic products are under price control. Also if we launch, we need to launch a full range of products which we don���t have. We are, however, open to out-licensing,��� Mr Tiwari said. The company has a total of 15 ANDAs (Abbreviated New Drug Application), which it will be filing 5-6 every year.

Apart from its IP generics, USV is also working on innovative research on oral insulin and typhoid vaccine. Both these are in the pre-clinical stage currently. USV has allocated Rs 60-70 crore for R&D this year. ���We have chosen to work on products which can be manufactured on a large scale and which also can address the IP issue,��� Mr Tiwari said.