Lincoln Pharma bets big on Pa-12 paracetamol tablets

Ahmedabad based pharmaceutical company Lincoln Pharmaceuticals Ltd (LPL) is expecting nearly 8-10 per cent of its turnover next fiscal to come from its latest launch, Pa-12, a paracetamol tablet.

Mahendra G Patel, managing director, Lincoln Pharma said, "In the first year we are expecting revenues worth Rs 15-20 crore from Pa-12, the long acting paracetamol tablets. In 2011-12 we hope to touch a turnover of Rs 225 crore."

Patel claimed that this new paracetamol tablet is different from the current products available in the market in the way that this two-layered tablet offers longlasting relief for around 12 hours. "As apart from the regular 500 mg and 650 mg paracetamol tablets available in the market, Pa-12 is a 1000mg tablet that is divided into two layers. A 300 mg layer which is for offering immediate relief and another 700 mg layer that takes care of a protective coverage for another eight hours.", he explained.

The branded paracetamol market in India is estimated to be around Rs 200-250 crore, and is growing at the rate of 12-15 per cent. Paracetamol is the time tested molecule that controls fever and pain by working on the hypothalamus gland of the human brain. Pa-12 has been developed by the in-house research and development wing of Lincoln Pharma at a cost of Rs 2 crore. The company aims to manufacture around 100 million tablets per month at its Khatraj facility near Ahmedabad. Pa-12 is priced at Rs 36 for a 12 tablet pack.

Lincoln Pharma will initially market it in the domestic market, and is also working on preparing dossiers for future launches in international markets like South East Asian markets, and African countries. The company received patent for a nasal drug delivery system (NDDS) in India last month.