Ranbaxy in deal with Eurodrug

DRUG MAJORS LINE UP A BOOSTER DOSE

Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd has entered into an in-licensing agreement with the Netherlands-based Eurodrug Laboratories, for its asthma product 'Doxophylline'.

The marketing agreement for the 'Novel Xanthine Bronchodilator', for which the market is estimated to be Rs 64 crore, is restricted to the Indian domestic territory only.

The Ranbaxy spokesperson refused to outline the financial arrangement including the royalty to be paid to European company.

The drug, which is indicated for Chronic Bronchitis, Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), is considered to be superior to available Xanthine analogues, according to a Ranbaxy release.

The drug has already been marketed by Eurodrug in Europe, Latin America and few Asian markets like Korea, Philippines and Thailand, the release adds.

The product developed in collaboration with many European medical centers, would be introduced for the first time in India under the brand name "Synasma" and a 400 mg tablet would cost Rs 7.50.

When asked if the drug was a patented one, the Ranbaxy spokesperson explained that the drug wasn't patentable in India.

Commenting on the development, Mr. Sanjeev I. Dani, regional director -India & West Asia, Ranbaxy said "Synasma is another innovative asthma drug to be introduced in India for the 'first' time, by us. It is our strategic intent to in-licence differentiated products for the Indian market in the post-patent era and this drug augments the Company's position in the fast growing asthma segment."

Ranbaxy had also launched its branded asthma product, Osonide (Ciclesonide) Inhaler "" another first in India "" in March this year. It was a novel once-a-day treatment in the asthma segment which the company maintains is one of the niche areas that the company is looking to add to its product portfolio.

India presently has an estimated 15-20 million asthma patients and the estimated prevalence rate in 5-11 year old children is between 10-15%.

A large segment of the population is susceptible to this disorder. The classified triggers for asthma include environment pollutants, molds, dust mites, certain food etc.