Cumi to tie up with Cerdak to market wound-healing product

Carborundum Universal (Cumi) is set to partner with South African company Cerdak to market the latter's novel wound healing product in India. Cumi plans to eventually start producing the product in the country.

The product, also called Cerdak, is a bioceramic device made through a patented process. Cumi currently makes ceramic for industrial applications.

At a press conference today, Cumi's chairman M M Murugappan, said the partnership was an attempt to expand its ceramic portfolio.

The market that Cumi plans to address is worth over Rs 250 crore, said the company's president, K Srinivasan. Cumi has prepared the ground to market Cerdak by taking it through clinical trials in the country and getting the approval of the Drug Controller General of India.

Cumi plans to manufacture Cerdak after March. Murugappan declined to estimate the investment required to set up production facilities, saying that it would be premature.

A large part of the ceramic substance required to make Cerdak is ready at Cumi's existing manufacturing facilities. The last stage in the manufacture of Cerdak is a patented process that would require a stand-alone facility in India.

Cumi, which is a part of the Murugappa Group, would be up against companies such as Johnson and Johnson in the market for wound healing products.

In the first stage of its partnership, Cumi plans to largely develop the market for Cerdak. To do that, Cumi has a two-tier distribution system. One section of the system would target hospitals and clinics, while the other would target retail pharmacies.

The Cerdak wound treatment device consists of a fabric sachet filled with micro-porous ceramic granules that complements the body's natural healing process.