Industry sources said that Pfizer was examining the feasibility of introducing its cardiovascular drug, Cardura, and anti-diabetes drug, Glucotrol XL in India. While the launch schedules could not be ascertained, indications are that Cardura may be brought in towards the year end. Pfizer's product line for non-insulin dependent diabetes comprises Diabinese, Glucotrol and Glucotrol XL.

Also on the cards is the relaunch of the innovative macrolide antibiotic brand, Zithromax (possibly by June), and a combination of recently discontinued anthelmintic brand, Combantrin. Zithromax (like Diabinese) had been withdrawn due to widespread copying in the Indian market.However, Pfizer officials when contacted said that "as of now" the company had no launch plans other than antibioticZithromax."

While we are looking at various products, there are no firm plans as of now," an official said.

Zithromax, with global sales of $619 million in 1996, is the number one oral antibiotic in Italy and Finland. On the possible introduction of Viagra in India, company officials said that the environment in the domestic pharmaceutical market was different from that of most countries and hence there are concerns on this front.

"The major concerns include the possibility of unapproved and non-prescription use of this unique molecule or availability of counterfeits in the market and hence launch plans of Viagra were not decided," an official said.

"We will, however, be monitoring Viagra's acceptance in some of the major countries where it has been launched, which will assist us on our plans in India," he added.

Wall Street analysts have reportedly estimated Viagra's sales potential at $5 billion per year, even as it is just in its infancy in overseas markets. The drug, which is approximately amonth old, has reportedly generated 1,13,134 prescriptions in the second week of launch on April 17 (up 200 per cent over the previous week), according to auditing firm, IMS America. The American multinational has, in the recent past, been continuously evaluating its product portfolio and had weeded out unviable brands like Combantrin and two Terramycin dosage forms.