A world class formulation development facility is also planned to be set up for locally manufacturing drugs in Mumbai soon.

The Indian subsidiary which ranks 10th amongst the leading drug manufacturers in the country and having a market share of 2.1 per cent has identified India and China as potential markets. With the launch of these three new drugs, the company's net sales is likely to rise by 5 per cent.

The company is also concentrating on marketing of drugs on cardiology, neurology, oncology (cancer), immunology (kidney transplant), gynaecology and pain management.

The group's product manager, KS Kumar speaking to The Financial Express stated that another product, `Starlix', for treatment of diabetes is proposed to be soon launched in Europe by the parent company. The trials are in progress. This drug will, thereafter be launched in Indiaand marketed by the company.

The drug for treatment of severe blood pressure and angina is a Benazeprial combination with Diuretics and calcium channel blockers. This was successfully launched in Europe in 1994-95. The drug for treatment of alzheimers is `Exelon' and it was launched in Europe in 1997. All these along with the anti-cancer drug, `Femara' will be launched soon in the country and marketed for sales, said Kumar.

The general manager for marketing and sales, KG Ananthkrishnan, said that the company has successfully launched `Benace', a drug for treatment of blood pressure in the country in January 1998. This was first launched in Mumbai, subsequently in Chennai and now being simultaneously launched in Delhi and Calcutta on July 5.

Benace was earlier launched in Europe in 1992 after trials conducted successfully for two years from 1989 in 49 centres. It took 15 years for preparation of the trial. Benac in India has soon received wide acceptance by specialists with a prescription gain of 80 percent per month. The product has also been priced in a competitive manner with 5 milligram pack being Rs 2.90 and 10 milligram pack being Rs 4.80 inclusive of duties, said Ananthkrishnan.

The company has adopted a strategy conducting symposia in metros and other cities and rendering technical support to doctors for popularising the product. He said that the uniqueness with Benace is that it blocks the action of angiotensin 2 hormone at the kidney level. Angiotensin 2 hormone is produced by the kidneys which causes blood pressure and helps in construction of arteris. The action of Benace causes no harm to the kidneys.