Accenture To Pen Alembic Revamp Plan
Alembic Ltd has appointed consultancy firm Accenture to enhance its operational efficiency, productivity, cost-rationalisation and supply chain management. Accenture will also help the company in identifying key areas of improvement.
Chirayu R Amin, chairman and managing director of the company, said: "Apart from doing the operational improvement exercise, Accenture will assist us in developing a blueprint for performance enhancement in our bulk drug plant and formulation business."
The appointment of Accenture comes in the wake of important restructuring exercise undertaken by Alembic. Earlier, the company had two marketing forces -- one under Alembic and the other under Megacare, a division of the company. As that led to duplication of efforts, the two marketing teams have been merged into Alembic.
Amin said, "With the integration of Alembic and Megacare division, we hope to tap at least 60,000 new doctors and it will also help us in improving the call productivity through re-allocation of resources and it will bring in a focus of therapy management."
"These initiatives will help Alembic to regain its position as a strong player in the domestic pharmaceutical market," he added.
After the integration, the field force will promote products falling in five broad categories: anti-infective, respiratory, pain management, nutrition and metabolic disorders.
The company has also decided to merge Darshak Ltd, the group's synthetic bulk pharmaceutical chemicals manufacturing subsidiary, with itself. The shareholders and creditors of both the companies have approved the merger.
While Darshak has sought the approval of the Karnataka High Court for the merger, Alembic has sought the approval of the Gujarat High Court. The Amins hold around 60 per cent each in both the companies.
Darshak Ltd was established in 1972 as a distribution company for Alembic's products for the south. It had set up a $5 million synthetic bulk pharmaceutical chemical and intermediates unit with CGMP facilities at Panelav, near Vadodara. The Amins have decided to leverage the strengths of Darshak with those of Alembic's in bulk-drugs and formulations.
Alembic's bulk pharmaceutical chemicals division has set itself a target to remain internationally competitive in the Penicillin and Macrolide group of products, while constantly upgrading its facilities to meet international regulatory approvals.
The company is also planning to emerge as one of the leading pharma companies as far as supply of fermentation-based and synthetic drugs is concerned.