"Along with the marketing agreement, Kee Pharma has also entered into a technology transfer agreement with Heber Biotech SA of Cuba," Kee Pharma managing director anil Mothiar told the Financial Express. All the specialised biotechnology products used in the field of cardiology, immunology and oncology will be launched through Kee Pharma's biotech division, Kee Biogenetics.

Initially we plan to market these products in India. Since we have entered into a technology transfer agreement also, we will plan to sublet the manufacturing licence to other manufacturers on a contract basis, said Mothiar.

Kee Pharma has tied up with the Cuban company, Heber Biotech to launch three high-tech biotech products in India. These include `recombiant streptokinase', `recombiant interferon', `gamma and alpha interferon' and `human transfer factor'. Kee Pharma has also tied up with a Russian Research Institute of Highly Pure Biopreperations for the launch of `erythropoieten', `interleukin 1B and `immunomodulator'. `Erythropoieten' is a fast growing product in the world with an annual sales of close to $2bn. The domestic market for the oncology product is close to Rs 60 crore.

The company has also tied up with Institute of Polio Myelitis, Academy of Medical Sciences, Russia or the launch of rabbies vaccine, for which the market in India is estimated to be around Rs 50-60 crore.

In the first phase, `recombiant streptokinase' is being launched in collaboration with Heber SA by September this year and `recombiant interferon' by December this year. These products have a domestic market of close to Rs 85-100 crore and kee Pharma aims at achieving a market share of close to 10 per cent in the first year, Kee Pharma, Mothiar said. With the launch of a host of products, Kee Pharma's biotech arm, Kee Biogenetics' turnover is expected to grow fourfold to Rs 23.2 crore from the current level of Rs 5 crore. Kee Pharma's turnover for 2000-01 is expected to be around Rs 23 crore and the impact of the launch of these products will be visible only in 2001-02 onwads, said Mothiar.

Recombiant streptokinase is made through the recombinant DNA technology and has already made a breakthrough worldwide, which is helpful in dissolving intra-coronary clots to prevent fatal heart attacks. Recombiant erythropoieten is used for increasing red blood cells an d is used for treatment of anaemia in patients with chronic kidney failure, especially being exposed to hemodialysis.