Sun Pharma Acquires Bevy Of Brands From Natco

Sun Pharmaceuticals has acquired a basket of speciality brands from the Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical company, Natco Pharma. The brands are in the category of cardiology, anti-emetics, anti-migraine, among others. The agreement was signed on Saturday.

According to a release issued by the company, one of the brands acquired, Coldact, is ranked 226th in the country. Among the other brands acquired are the anti-emetic, Zofer, the amoxycillin brand, Natamox, the anti-migraine, Suminat, the lansoprazole brand, Splanz.

The combined retail sales of the brands acquired stood at Rs 52.99 crore, the release said, quoting an August 98 ORG study.

According to the release, Natco's products will give Sun Pharma a base in high-growth respiratory segment at the entry-level. Products with a presence in cardiology, neurology-psychiatry, gastroenterology, anti-infectives, orthopaedics, paediatrics, will complement Sun Pharma's current speciality product portfolio.

"The brands will strengthen our ability to build a customer franchise using a complete product offering. This move is in line with the high-growth strategy we've outlined at Sun Pharma," said Dilip Shangvi, managing director of the company.

Natco operates in the therapeutic segments of anti-asthma, cough and cold, anti-biotics, cardiology, neurology-psychiatry, pain management, gastroenterology, tonic/rejuvenator and intestinal anti-infective.

Anti-biotics constitute about 29 per cent of Natco's revenues. Over 10 per cent of Natco's retail prescription brands are cardiologicals. Its top five products contribute about 47 per cent to its retail brand sales.

Sun has a good presence in cardiovasculars and neuro-psychiatry with Monotrate and Alzolam featuring among the country's top 250 brands.