Ranbaxy In Pact With Zydus To Vend Ofloxacin

Ranbaxy Laboratories has entered into a co-marketing alliance with Zydus Cadilla to market the once-a-day formulation of ofloxacin. Ranbaxy has entered into this alliance after receiving the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) approval for the once-a-day dosage antibiotic.

The drug will be marketed under the companies' respective brand names of Zannocin-OD (Ranbaxy) and Oflin-OD (Zydus). Ranbaxy will manufacture and supply the product to Zydus.

With a market share of over 20 per cent (according to ORG-Marg), ofloxacin has a market of Rs 92.5 crore with a growth rate of 49 per cent.

Sanjiv Kaul, regional director of Ranbaxy, commenting on the development, said, "With both companies having over 30 per cent market share in the ofloxacin market, this alliance will be a win-win situation for both partners."

Ganesh Nayak, executive director, Zydus Cadilla, said, "In fact, the ofloxacin oral solids market is currently growing at 49 per cent and with both Zanocin and Oflin coming in with the unique OD formulation, the market will get a fillip."

This is Ranbaxy's second co-marketing alliance for its once-a-day dosage. The previous one was for ciprofloxacin's once-a-day dosage with Cipla. GlaxoSmithKline is to join this alliance in October 2001.

Ranbaxy was to manufacture the drug for Cipla and Ranbaxy and it would be marketed under their respective brand names.