Following the Supreme Court decision to permit fixed-dose combinations (FDC) of streptomycin and penicillin for veterinary use, Glaxo India Ltd has chalked out plans for introduction of a string of new formulations based on these drugs in the Rs 60-crore veterinary segment.
The ministry of Health and Family Welfare has phased out the FDC combination of streptomycin and penicillin from January 1998.
The matter came up for hearing in the apex court on account of petitions filed for review of the order including by the Drug Action Forum.
In June this year, the Supreme Court allowed the use of the penicillin-streptomycin combination for veterinary purposes.
The apex court's order, however, specified that manufacturers of these combinations are required to print explicitly and in bold letters on the packaging that the combination is for veterinary purposes only and would be dangerous/ hazardous if used by human beings.
Glaxo had discontinued production of the penicillin-streptomycin combination two years ago following the imposition of the ban in 1998.
According to a highly placed Glaxo source, the company would restart the production of 'streptopenicillin' for veterinary segment within the next three months.
The source said at present, the company is studying the market and by the end of the year it would launch at least two new brands in the segment.
At the time of imposition of the ban for formulations based on these drugs in 1998, the market size was of around Rs 30 crore. At present, the market has doubled to Rs 60 crore.
.......Disposal of tail-end brands to continue
Glaxo India Ltd will continue its strategy of selling its tail-ended brands for the next couple of years and the money realised from the disposal of these brands would be invested in additional promotion of products with greater potential, Glaxo officials informed.
According to industry analysts, the company has decided to downsize its product portfolio from 120 to 90 and would sell more tail-ended products.
Glaxo's recent initiative to sell its vitamin brand Anovate to US Vitamins is part its current strategy. Glaxo is also in talks with different domestic pharmaceutical companies to sell such old products, sources said.
Glaxo has earned Rs 15.5 crore from the sale of two tail-ended brands (apart from Anovate) during the six months ended June 2000.
The company plans to launch five products spanning various segments in the current year. These include Lamictal for epilepsy, Valterex for viral infections and an anti-fungal agent Zoderm.
