Camlin Pharma, Nostrum join forces for R&D

Camlin Pharma, a division of Rs 193 crore Camlin Ltd, is planning a joint venture with Nostrum Pharmaceuticals Inc to form a clinical research organisation to develop new drug delivery systems (NDDS).

The firm will pour a seed capital of Rs 10 crore into the venture and plans to use its research and development (R&D) facility in Andheri, a Mumbai suburb, to develop new drugs to add to the five US patents that it has filed till now.

Ashish Dandekar, executive director and president, Camlin Pharma, said, "The joint venture will give us the marketing strength of Nostrum and also allow us more control over intellectual property rights."

The company is currently involved in doing contract research in NDDS for many European and US firms.

Speaking to the media at the launch of Repelmos, a mosquito repellent, Dandekar said, "Repelmos is the first product from Camlin Pharma's personal care stable. It is targetted at the urban Indian consumer." The repellent is initially launched in four southern states and will be available in the rest of the country by March 2005.

The company hopes to gain a foothold in the mosquito repellents market, whose size is pegged at Rs 800 crore with the south alone accounting for more than 33 per cent.

Camlin Pharma accounts for 32 per cent of the parent's revenues. It has presence in bulk drugs, fine chemicals and anti-oxidants, too.