Ranbaxy Ups Ciprofloxacin Inventory By 25%

Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd has increased its inventory of ciprofloxacin by 20-25 per cent following the anthrax scare in the country and abroad.

"In case it is required, we have an adequate inventory of the drug. Cifran (Ranbaxy's ciprafloxacin) and Ranbaxy have the wherewithal to rise to the occasion," regional director (India) Sanjiv Kaul said.

Ciprofloxacin is used in the cure of anthrax. "Cifran 500 mg twice-a-day dosage is known to be effective for the disease. It is recommended for anthrax caused through inhalation," Kaul said.

The higher inventory can also cater to some overseas non-regulated markets where Ranbaxy sells ciprofloxacin both under its brand Cifran as well as in bulk form. However, it does not have the approval to sell in the US which has been the focus of the recent anthrax attacks.

Ciprofloxacin is known to have gone out of stock in the US after anthrax cases coming to light.

"In case the US government allows the import of ciprofloxacin, India can supply at one-tenth the price," Kaul said.

Ranbaxy is the largest player in the ciprofloxacin market in the country. As per Kaul, in the last couple of months, the market share of the company has touched 20 per cent. In the last six months, the company's ciprofloxacin has done an average monthly turnover of about Rs 6 crore. The other producers of ciprofloxacin in the country include Torrent, Alchem and Dr Reddy's Laboratories.

In another development, Ranbaxy announced that it will jointly co-market its once-a-day ciprofloxacin with Cila and Glaxo. Under the agreement, Ranbaxy would manufacture the drug at its production facility at Paonta Sahib in the state of Himachal Pradesh and supply it to both Glaxo and Cipla. While Ranbaxy will market the drug under the brand Cifran OD, Cipla will market it under the brand Ciplox OD and Glaxo will market it under the brand C-OD.

Commenting on the initiative, Ranbaxy CEO and managing director D S Brar said: "This move heralds a new era in the field of co-marketing wherein both Indian companies and MNCs will work together to leverage their combines strength in marketing and distribution to ensure that the benefits of ciprofloxacin once-a-day reach the maximum number of patients."