Elder Pharma enters anti-hypertensives

Elder Pharmaceuticals has forayed into the anti-hypertensives segment by an in-licensing agreement with Tanabe Seiyaku of Japan for launching the latter's brand Tanatril.

The $1.7-billion Tanabe Seiyaku is an Osaka-based company with ethical pharmaceutical products as its core business. Tanatril is currently marketed in 29 countries, including 10 European countries.

The current market size of anti-hypertensives in India is Rs 1,350 crore and it is growing at a rate of 10 per cent annually. Imidapril "" as Tanantril is internationally known "" has global sales of about YEN 23 billion.

Imidapril is an ACE inhibitor, which blocks the enzyme needed to form a substance that narrows blood vessels.

Elder expects to garner a 10 per cent market share of the ACE inhibitor market with Tanatril in three years. The product will be marketed by its lifestyle division, El Life. This unit focuses on the Rs 2,800-crore lifestyle diseases segment.

Elder is also planning to fortify its presence in the market by launching 25 more products. Tanatril will be the flagship brand of El Life.