Cadila Pharma focuses on ayurvedic OTC segment to fuel growth

Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd focusses on herbal product segment to fuel growth in the Indian market

Pharma major Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd is now focussing on ayurvedic over-the-counter products segment to fuel growth in the Indian market, which has recently seen several allopathic drugs come under price control.

Rajiv Modi, chairman and managing director, Cadila Pharmaceuticals, said the company had recently commissioned a manufacturing facility at Dholka, around 48km southwest of Ahmedabad, for making ayurvedic (herbal) products.

“We commissioned a plant around four to five months back. Now, we are working on developing a strong distribution network,” he said, without divulging further details.

Modi added there were around four to five products in the ayurvedic portfolio. It would take time for the segment to clock significant revenues.

The company’s website notes that Cadila’s herbal division, Chezgreen, has three products: Cahaya, a turmeric-based face cream that improves complexion; Citroneem, a neem-based mosquito repellant that is safe for children’s skin; and Folistrong, a hair product that fights dandruff and premature greying.

The website notes that the products are based on an in-house research of over a decade.

The move is significant as this could de-risk the company from price control in the allopathic drugs segment. With the recent Drug Price Control Order (DPCO), a few hundred essential drugs have come under the ambit of price control, and hence many pharmaceutical companies are looking at diversifying into nutraceuticals and herbal segments.

The Rs 1,200-crore privately held firm focusses on developing affordable medicines. In November last year, Cadila had launched Mycidac-C, an affordable, unique and innovative drug for the treatment of lung cancer.