J B Chemicals Plans To Launch Herbal Drugs

The Rs 200-crore J B Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals is planning to launch a basket of herbal formulations in the therapeutic segment.

The formulations are for treating liver disorders, common cold, arthritis and asthma. The drugs are expected to hit the market in the current fiscal.

"We estimate that the market for ayurvedic products in health care, cosmetics and food supplements can grow at the rate of over 15 per cent per annum. But, right now it is not organised and there are few manufacturers," J B Mody, chairman and managing director, of the company said.

Mody says the company has stepped up research in ayurveda and will be allocating more resources to it in the future. Last year, the company spent Rs 1 crore on ayurvedic research. Ayurvedic products are outside the purview of the Drug Price Control Order.

 

Development has been carried out on all but one product _ the anti-arthritis formulation. The liver drug or hepatoprotective is to be called Hepaton and will be made in capsule and liquid forms while the anti-asthmatic Bronex will be available as a capsule only. The other formulations are yet to be branded.

"The products are all well-standardised. We have already invested in a herbal standardisation project and propose to increase outlay over the next few years", said M D Joshi, a senior company official.

The company already has a presence in the ayurveda segment with Fitovit, a natural fitness capsule, and Doktor Mom cough syrup which is exported to the CIS countries. The company had a significant exposure to the Russian market with export turnover from that region amounting to Rs 65 crore, last year.

The company had suspended shipments of its Doktor Mom cough syrup last month in the wake of the rouble crisis. However, it has resumed exports again. "We have gone ahead with shipments which have been paid for and expect things to improve," said Joshi.

The leading players in the ayurveda market are Dabur, Zandu, Himalaya Drug Company and Paras Pharmaceuticals. Another recent entrant is Kopran which markets its products under the Smyle brand name.

Besides herbal products, JB also has a presence in allopathy. Last year, the company was granted product patents for controlled release formulations of ranitidine and nifedipine in South Africa.