Fulford Weighs Launch Of New Drugs Next Year

Fulford (India), associate company of US-based pharmaceutical major Schering Plough, plans to enter the anti-inflammatory drugs market with some launches by mid next year.

Top company sources said the products may not be sourced from Schering Plough, but from other companies through a cross-licensing deal. Without revealing details of the transaction, the sources indicated the drugs could be in tablet form, followed by syrups and then ointments.

Fulford India, 40 per cent owned by Schering Plough, operates in therapeutic segments like dermatology, antibiotics and anti-cancer. Its major products such as Quadriderm, Dipsalic, Tinaderm, Garamycin, Netromycin, Intron and Polaramine, etc are licensed from Schering Plough.

The entry into anti-inflammatory category is in line with its policy of expanding its product range. Growing between 5-10 per cent per annum, the anti-inflammatory market is dominated by major players like Knoll Pharmaceuticals, Hoechst Marion Roussel, Novartis, Wockhardt and Dr Reddy's.

Analysts say the potential in this category is always strong as most drugs are used for relieving pain. This year it launched a new moisturising skin preparation in the dermatology segment. Last year, it came out with a new brand of interferon alpha-2b called Viraferon for the hepatitis segment.

Its future thrust is seen to be in anti-cancer or oncology products where it is already a market leader. This is a fast-growing segment in the Indian pharmaceutical market recording over 20 per cent growth last year. Fulford India posted net profits of Rs 1.33 crore in the third quarter of the current year. Its net sales were Rs 32.88 crore.