Wockhardt to launch Wosulin in US, Europe

Wockhardt, which launched Asia's first recombinant (genetically engineered) human insulin "� Wosulin "� in the Indian market in 2003, is planning to grab a major share of the global market for human insulins by launching the product in the European Union and the US.

The launch will make Wockhardt the fourth company in the world to launch the product in Europe and the US, along with Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Sanofi-Aventis.

"It is an over $3 billion opportunity for human insulin globally, and there are only three major players currently in the global market. Regulatory filings have been started for the European market and we hope to launch Wosulin in Europe by 2009-10 and in the US a year later," said Habil Khorakiwala, chairman, Wockhardt.

Wockhardt is already in the process of launching the insulin in over 60 countries in the 'rest of the world markets' such as CIS, South East Asia, Latin America and North Africa.

The company had invested over Rs 150 crore on creating biotech manufacturing capabilities at its Aurangabad facility.

As per the ORG-IMS figures (August 2006 to August 2007), the Indian human insulin market, valued about Rs 400 crore, is dominated by three multinational players "� Novo Nordisk (63.8 per cent at Rs 254.6 crore), Eli Lilly (19.8 per cent at Rs 78.9 crore) and Sanofi-Aventis (Rs 25 crore at 6.4 per cent).

Apart from Wockhardt (1.52 per cent with Rs 6 crore), Bangalore-based Biocon (Insugen-3.33 per cent), USV (2.94 per cent) and Mumbai-based Shreya Life Sciences (Recosulin "� 1 per cent) had launched own versions of insulin in the Indian market.

Wokhardt's Wosulin production was affected for a few months recently, following a Maharashtra FDA directive to stop production on quality issues.

Khorakiwala said the company has appointed Bain & Company to fast track and integrate value creation from the acquired facilities in Europe.

"The process will take about an year and the effort is to derive synergy and maximum value out of Pinewood and Negma Laboratories acquisitions," he said, and added that the integration would not mean relocating manufacturing facilities to India and reducing workforce in the European or the US facilities.

So far, Wockhardt has spent over $500 million on acquisitions and the strategy for the next one year would be to focus on creating value and integration of the facilities, he said.

The acquisition of Morton Grove in the US market would help the company to have over 50 approved products in the US market.

"The acquisition helps us to position ourselves as a complete generic player with strength in liquids, capsules and injectables. We will continue to launch 15-20 products in the US every year, which will help to give us good revenues in future," said Khorakiwala.

Commenting on the new drug development plans, he said the strategy would be to take the drug forward to the proof of concept stage, before outlicensing the molecule for further development.

Currently, Wockhardt has an antibiotic molecule in Phase II stage and another for respiratory infections in the Phase I stage.