Wockhardt sets up sales arm in US

Pharmaceutical major Wockhardt has incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary in the US for carrying out sales and marketing.

"We are seeking exponential growth in our US business over the next few years," Wockhardt chairman Habil Khorakiwala said.

"Towards this end we are beefing up the research and development, manufacturing, regulatory and legal infrastructure in India, and establishing a sales and marketing organisation in the US," he said.

More than 150 professionals at various levels at Wockhardt in India are supporting the company's US generics business by working on non-infringing technologies, filing abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) and liaisoning with the US regulatory bodies.

Arthur Maher, a marketing professional with over 20 years experience in the generic pharmaceutical industry, has been appointed as president of Wockhardt USA Inc to provide a new thrust to the company's US business.

Wockhardt has also relocated Sanjay Patel, president, corporate scientific affairs, from India to US. He will guide Wockhardt's scientific and technical affairs in India, Europe and the US.

Ramesh Sesha, senior vice-president, intellectual property rights, has also been relocated to the US office.

"With the growing consolidation in the US generics business, buyers now have fewer companies to deal with," Maher said.

"The market is looking for new players with good credentials. Indian companies are now as much known for their quality as for their cost-effective prices. The timing is just right for Wockhardt for a push into the US."

Wockhardt currently sells four products in the US "" ranitidine, enalapril, bethenecol chloride and captopril. It filed six new ANDAs with the US Food and Drug Administration last year and plans to file 15 ANDAs this year.

Wockhardt is a Rs 1,000 crore, research and technology-based pharmaceutical company and a front-runner in biotechnology. Wockhardt has an active multi-disciplinary research and development programme employing over 350 scientists.

It has three successful biotechnology products in the market "" Biovac B (hepatitis B vaccine), Wepox (recombinant erythropoeitin) and Wosulin (recombinant insulin).