29 May 2002, The Hindu Business Line

Arvind Remedies expands portfolio

S. Gopikrishna Warrier

At present, 30 per cent of the company's turnover is from herbal products. This is expected to go up to 40 per cent in the next two years

Arvind Remedies Ltd (ARL), is planning a national launch next month of its ayurvedic diabetic cure, `Pankare' launched in the four Southern States two months ago.

According to Mr Arvind Shah, Managing Director of ARL, this product, developed through the company's R&D, focuses on regenerating the pancreatic activity in diabetic patients through the rejuvenation of beta cells. The company had launched Pankare based on its success in finding acceptance for its ayurvedic R&D product, Sorexil, anti-ulcer cream for bedsores launched last year. The cream, Mr Shah said, was getting a good response from dermatologists.

ARL plans to focus on ayurvedic medicines developed in its own R&D centre at Kakkalur, near Chennai. "We want to focus on bringing out researched products, because this will be the only way to stay on top once the patents regime comes into force in 2005," he said.

Even within R&D products, herbals had a rapidly growing market, he said. At present, it has a size of Rs 3,000 crore (out of the total pharma market of Rs 16,000 crore), and it is growing at 15 per cent, whereas the total pharma sector is growing at 11 per cent.

He says that the company plans to increase its R&D investment from 0.5 per cent of its turnover last year to two per cent during 2002-2003.
Last year, the investment was Rs 50 lakh over a turnover of Rs 104 crore.
In the pipeline, in various stages of clinical trials, are other herbal drugs prepared by ARL. Among these are drugs for treating cardio-vascular problems, coronary artery diseases, damaged kidneys and a skin ointment for dressing wounds.

According to Mr Shah, the skin ointment forms an artificial skin over the wound, under which the new skin can form. This product will tap into the Rs 300 crore wound dressing market in the country.

In addition to the herbal products, ARL will also be launching three nutraceutical products this financial year. While all of them are nutritional drinks, one of them is designed for pregnant and lactating women, one for diabetic patients and the third for the elderly. Four months ago, the company had launched a nutraceutical drink, Calorich, in the southern States. Unlike the specialised products that are on the anvil, this was designed as a nutraceutical drink for all.

In April 2001 the company had launched a product in collaboration with Madurai-based Ayurveda Pharmacy. Called Solufat, this was aimed at reducing cholesterol in blood. Also launched a year ago was Artin Oil, a pain reliever.

At present only 30 per cent of the company's turnover comes from herbal products. This is likely to be enhanced to 40 per cent in the next two years, according to Mr Shah.

The company, which received its ISO-9002 certification recently, plans to go in for USFDA clearance so that it can try to sell its products in the restricted markets. At present it exports to Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria, CIS countries, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Korea and Vietnam.