The domestic pharmaceutical industry is rushing in to tap the huge potential offered by cardiovascular and metabolism segments. Several companies are now foraying into these therapeutic segments hitherto domain of select firms.
The market for diabetes alone here in India is about Rs 500 crore and is growing in double digits in the range of 28 per cent to 35 per cent. Globally, the market is worth about $ 8.5 million which is seeing a growth of about 8 to 10 per cent. Domestically, the cardiovascular segment is witnessing a growth of about 20 per cent, while globally it is growing at about 10 to 15 per cent With diabetes and other lifestyle diseases on the rise, brand names will play a large part in deciding the market leader. With diabetes , the patient rarely switches brands so the first mover advantage will play a big part.
The early entrants are liable to gain big market shares making it a very lucrative option. "Early entrance will make a big difference where the top three players will garner 70 per cent of the market share and the remaining players will have to target the new patients getting these diseases," said Ashit Kothari, pharmaceuticals' analyst with BNP Paribas Equities.
According to ORG figures for August 2001, Aventis's insulin brand, Insuman grew by 34 per cent in a year-on-year comparison and has a market share of 4.35 per cent, while its oral anti-diabetic Amaryl has grown by 69.5 per cent on a year-on-year comparison and has a market share of 4.24 per cent.
Cipla's Amlopres,-its hypertensive combinant grew by 21.7 per cent while DRL's hypotensive combinant, Stamlobeta has seen a growth of 26.8 per cent. DRL is also believed to have a very promising pipeline for its diabetic products.
Says Prashant Nair, group manager, research, Pranav Securities, "These are one of the faster growing segments. Right now the competition is lower in these areas due to these segments being speciality areas. The high margin also make these segments lucrative."
Knoll Pharmaceuticals also has a extensive portfolio of insulin products. Its largest brand in this category Human mixtard has a market share of 28.58 per cent and has seen a growth of 20.8 per cent. Its other insulin product, Mixtard has a market share of 12.75 per cent and has grown by over 10 per cent.
Some of its other brands in insulin are Bovine insulin, Actrapid human, Monotard human, Actrapid hm penfil and Actrapid. Insulin contribute 38.8 per cent to Knoll's sales and has over 75 per cent market share. Nicholas Piramal has seen its oral anti diabetics grow by 38.6 per cent while Torrent pharmaceuticals has seen the same sector grow by 239.8 per cent.
Sun Pharmaceutical's oral anti-diabetic brand Glucored has grown 23 per cent and a market share of 4.94 per cent, while its betablockers brand Cardivas has grown 89.3 per cent and has a market share 5.75 per.
