Lupin expects to launch 50 products globally in FY12

Drug maker Lupin expects to launch nearly 50 products in the current fiscal in various markets across the globe, including up to 12 products in the US.

The company, which filed 21 abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) in the US market in previous fiscal, plans to launch 10-12 products in the current fiscal.

"We have close to about 100 filings [for the US] that are still awaiting approvals," Lupin Managing Director Kamal Sharma said, adding about 10-12 products were expected to be cleared for launch within the fiscal.

"Lupin will continue to make about 25-30 filings specifically in niche areas and has always focused on control released, sustained release products which are difficult to develop, enjoy higher margins and have less competition as one requires scale as well as technology and IP prowess to develop them," Sharma added.

He said ANDA approvals are now taking about 26-28 months from an average 12 to 14 months earlier for launching generics in the US market.

"Not withstanding the delays in approvals in the American market, Lupin has built up a very differentiated and a highly qualitative generics pipeline for the US," Sharma said.

Globally, the firm expects to launch nearly 50 products, including around 30 products in India.

Besides, the company plans to launch 10 products in the Japanese market through its arm Kyowa Pharmaceutical in the current fiscal as it eyes to cash in on the recent Indo-Japan trade pact that opened the doors for the country's generic medicines there.

With the introduction of the 10 new products, Lupin expects revenues from the Japanese market to grow by 20% in the next fiscal.

The company, which operates in Japan through its subsidiary Kyowa Pharmaceuticals Industry, will address a target market size of close to $3 billion through these new launches.

The company's revenue expenditure on R&D amounted to Rs 483.4 crore, 8.5% to net sales as against Rs 357 crore, 7.5% to net sales in FY10.

The company also plans to launch 5-6 products in Europe this fiscal.

The company has filed 33 marketing authorisation application (MAA's) with European authorities during FY11, its largest ever in a single fiscal year.

Its cumulative filings with the European regulatory authorities now stand at 91 with the company having received 44 approvals to date.

The European business grew 30% during FY11.

Lupin's consolidated net sales crore for the year ended March 31, 2011 stood at Rs 5,706.82 crore.