MUMBAI, March 22: Glaxo India has lowered the price of its salbutamol inhaler brand, Ventorlin, by Rs 17 following a government notification cutting the prices of the product across the board.Though the reduction is applicable to all the players in the segment, key Indian companies were already selling their inhalers at prices close to the government-notified price. These inhalers are widely used by asthma patients.
Glaxo's Ventorlin is now priced at Rs 66, down from the earlier price of Rs 83, while market leader Cipla was already selling its Asthalin inhaler brand at approximately Rs 66.60. Rallis India's Sos brand was being sold at Rs 78.46. The new price has been effective for a few months now.
The chunk of the Rs 50 crore inhalants market is dominated by Cipla with a share of over Rs 37 crore, while Glaxo accounts for over Rs 8 crore. Though the price cut on Ventorlin is unlikely to have any major impact on Glaxo's margins, it could hurt anyway given that the company has had to reduce prices ofseveral brands in the recent past. Glaxo has, however, been cushioned against the cut to the extent of the marginal increase in the prices of its Ventorlin capsules. The prices of Ventorlin 4 mg capsules (strip of 10) has been increased to Rs 6.89 as against Rs 6.35 earlier, while the price of the 8 mg capsule is up to Rs 9.16 from Rs 9.14.
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) had recently lowered the prices of seven Glaxo formulations (three key brands) namely Betnasole, Gresovin and Betnovate skin ointment besides the anti-ulcer drug, ranitidine. The prices of ranitidine were recently cut by over Rs 500 to Rs 1,203 per kg from Rs 1,714 per kg. Glaxo, which has filed a review petition, accounts for 40 per cent of domestic ranitidine production.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
