Kee Pharma has tied up with Heber Biotec to launch recombinant human interferon, an effective cure against cancer and chronic hepatitis-B and C.
The product, Realfa 2B, is also useful in the treatment of leukemia and AIDS-related kaposi sarcoma. The company, which has planned a slew of biotech launches over the next few years, is focusing on capturing a large segment of the market based on its price competitiveness.
"Currently, the product is available at around Rs 1,600, while we plan to introduce it in the market at Rs 950 per injection," said Anil Motihar, managing director of Kee Pharma. The company is not focusing on the existing market for these products, but is banking on the new market which will open up on account of the lower cost of the injections, he says.
Recmbinant technology involves placing foreign protein in the human cells to induce the production of enzymes that counter the virus which causes the disease, explains Motihar. The protein is coded to produce the required enzyme. Interferon is the protein used in case of hepatitis.
Realfa 2B, is an injectible comprising interferon produced by animal cells when they are invaded by viruses. When it is released into the blood stream, it induces healthy cells to manufacture an enzyme that counters the infection.
The current market for interferon is limited by the price. Since the treatment for hepatitis is a long-term treatment, the current cost of treatment works out to anywhere between 2.25 lakhs to 3.5 lakhs per patient.
The company is banking on increasing the market size on the basis of the lower price of the product. Even if hepatitis B effects 4 per cent of the country's population, there are 40 million people who need the treatment.
Given the right price, the market for this product can increase to Rs 400 crore. "We are importing the product now but are in the process of setting up a plant to manufacture the product. Production is expected to start within two years. The company will then import raw material from Heber and manufacture the injections in the plant," Motihar says.
Kee Biogenetics, a specialised biotech division of Kee Pharma has already launched recombinant streptokinase, under the brand name Cardiostrep in the market. This is a genetically engineered streptokinase which dissolves intra-coronary clots to prevent heart attacks.
In addition, it plans to introduce a number of products including epidermal growth factor for treatment of burns, gamma interferon for treatment of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and scelrosis, human transfer factor an immunomodulator useful in treatment of viral fever, asthma and tuberculosis, recombinant interleukin1B, recombinant erythropoietin, galavit and a rabies vaccine within the next two years.
The company had a turnover of Rs 12 crore last year and has projected a Rs 25 crore turnover for this year. "If our assumption of the market for the products being price sensitive is correct, we expect to generate sales of Rs 5 crore in the first year from the biotech market. In the next year, we have projected a Rs 9 crore turnover and Rs 15 crore in the third year," Motihar says.
