Denmark-based Novo Nordisk, a world leader in diabetes care, is bullish on setting up robust clinical research functions and also leveraging the India opportunity in related fields such as data management and studying the patent situation of the medicines under development as well as shared services. The global major that is looking at India as a hub for manufacturing insulin for the entire sub-continent, recently inaugurated a dedicated facility with a capacity of 26 million vials per annum in partnership with Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd at Kadi near Ahmedabad. Melvin Oscar D'Souza, managing director, Novo Nordisk India Private Ltd, tells Sohini Das about the company's plans to introduce new products for the India market. Excerpts:
Q: Do you have any plans to bring in newer products from Novo Nordisk's diabetes portfolio into the Indian market in the coming years?
A: Our insulin products currently in the India market include Actrapid, Mixtard 30, Mixtard 50, Insulatard which are human insulins, NovoMix30, NovoRapid, Levemir that are insulin analogues. In addition we have the entire range of insulin delivery devices, durable pen like NovoPen and Novofine needles as well as prefilled disposable devices such as NovoLet and FlexPen.
We are committed to bring in better and more superior products to the market within diabetes. This year we have successfully launched Victoza (Liraglutide) in three markets including Denmark, UK and Germany. India is a strategic market for Novo Nordisk. We hope to have Liraglutide in the market very soon once all the procedures as per Indian regulations are completed.
Q: What according to you is the size of the Indian market for diabetic products?
A: India stands today prominently as the “diabetes capital of the world”. India is estimated to currently have about 50.8 million people with diabetes. Alarmingly by 2030, nearly 9 per cent of the country’s population is likely to be affected from the disease. The Indian market for diabetic products would include all these people. In terms of value the anti diabetic market is Rs 2029 crore and the insulin market is 556.96 crore.
Q: Do you have any plans to export insulin products from your Kadi facility that will be manufacturing around 26 million vials of insulin per annum?
A: Currently the insulin produced in the newly inaugurated facility will be used only in India.
Q: Also, if you could share your India turnover and how would you like to grow in the coming five years?
A: We are the leaders in diabetes care with more than 61 per cent market share in the insulin market. Mixtard is the leading diabetes care brand in India and is ranked fourth in the pharmaceutical industry. Similar is the case with our brand NovoMix 30, Novo Nordisk's modern insulin, which enjoys the number one position among modern insulin brand in the country. We will continue our journey to strengthen this position rapidly and with close partnerships with the healthcare professionals and people with diabetes.
Over the next five years we will continue the leadership role of bringing in the latest technology and science.Our objectives are clear and our business mandate well-defined. We will remain true to our commitment in providing the latest and best in diabetes care in India and to engage the medical fraternity with a constant commitment to changing diabetes in India.We are committed to deliver uninterrupted supply of quality insulin to the large section of insulin requiring people with diabetes in India over many decades.We will continue the good work started by bringing in products early, setting up robust clinical research functions and also leveraging the India opportunity in related fields suchas data management, studying the patent situation of the medicines under development and shared services.
Q: Also, does the company have any plans of starting R&D operations here? If so, what can be the likely investment and headcount?
A: Currently we are not in a position to comment on this.
