Ranbaxy maintains numero uno position

Even as the domestic pharma market is witnessing record growth since August in the range of 14 to 16 per cent, the country's largest drug maker Ranbaxy Laboratories maintained its numero uno position in the third consecutive month with a total turnover of Rs 119.4 crore in October this year, while GSK Indian and Cipla ranked the second and third with turnover at Rs 119 crore and Rs 114.6 crore, respectively.

However, the Mumbai-based medium scale company Alkem Laboratories ranked the fastest growing company in the Indian pharmaceutical market with growth at 25 per cent followed by Dr Reddy's with 24.8 per cent growth, according to October-06 ORG-IMS market data.

Alkem and Dr Reddy's posted sales of Rs 75.3 crore and Rs 56.1 crore during the month ranked at 6th and 10th positions, respectively.

The ORG"�IMS data for October, revealed that Nicholas Piramal, Zydus Cadila, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Lupin have emerged as the other top ten companies in terms of sales.

While Ranbaxy and Cipla grew at around 15 per cent, GSK, which was ranked second in sales posted only 4.8 per cent growth during the month.

Alkem's record growth in the local pharma market is mainly attributed to its high selling antibiotic brands.

"We have been following a very innovative market expansion strategy focusing more on the semi-urban and rural markets, which are the fastest growing market segment in India at present," said Vinod Dua, director-marketing, Alkem Laboratories.

Alkem has also set a target of touching Rs 1000-crore turnover by the end of this financial year, Dua added.

Among the top ten companies in terms of sales, Nicholas Piramal, Pfizer and GSK registered the lowest growth at 2.9 per cent, 4.7 per cent and 4.8 per cent, respectively.