Wyeth To Launch Vaccine Against Meningitis

Wyeth Lederle India will be adding an anti-meningitis vaccine to its drugs' portfolio. The vaccine, expected to be launched in a month, will combat HIB meningitis.

"The vaccine is a leading product abroad and is on the national health programme of most countries," said Baldev Arora, president and managing director of the company.

Last year, the company had launched Hibtitter, a vaccine for HIB meningitis in India for children under the age of five.

The new vaccine, too, will be in the range of paediatrics. However, Arora did not disclose what the new vaccine would be called or how, if at all, it would be different from Hibtitter.

The company had said in its annual report that `the sales of Hibtitter have shown satisfactory growth in the current year'.

It is likely that encouraged by the sales the company is expanding its product range in the same category.

Hib meningitis is caused by the haemophilius influenza type-B bacteria. Struck by the disease, a person can suffer from pneumonia and serious joints infection. It can also lead to lasting brain damage.

Wyeth Lederle is involved in the manufacture of bulk drugs or intermediates as well as formulations.

It operates in the categories of female health care, steroids, antibiotics, central nervous system products and vaccines.

The company underwent a product rationalisation exercise last year where older products were discontinued. However, when questioned about a further restructuring of product portfolio, Arora said that he expected that question to be raised and answered at the company's forthcoming annual general meeting.

In 1997-98, domestic pharmaceutical sales showed a growth of 5.4 per cent but exports fell 35 per cent.

The company earned a total income of Rs 213.71 crore and a net profit of Rs 23.51 crore as compared with an income of Rs 168.61 crore and a net profits of Rs 15.51 crore in the previous year. Wyeth Lederle India has been formed by the merger of Cynamid India, John Wyeth India, Wyeth Laboratories and Wyeth India.