Indigenous DES Yet To Consolidate

Even after 50,000 angioplasts being conducted every year in India, the country's indigenous drug eluting stents (DES) industry is still struggling to consolidate its position in the market. This is mainly due to lack of adequate support from established cardiologists, according to a top official of a major indigenous DES manufacturer.

"Though majority of the cardiologists are preferring indigenously built DES, however, some of the established cardiologists have not supported it the way they have supported the imported ones," Sahajanand Medical Technologies Private Limited (SMT) CEO Manish Doshi told PTI here. Based in Gujarat, the company is one of the largest DES manufacturers in the world, with a customer base spread over 28 countries. The DES is inserted inside the body to clear the blockages in heart for preventing cardiac arrest. "This has prevented the market from growing at a higher rate. World over the trend is promoted by the doctors and governments of respective countries. South Korea and China are some prime examples," Doshi said.

He said that this was primarily due to two reasons. "First, we have a habit of looking at the West for everything and undervalue anything Indian. Secondly, the Indian DES market is very young. Not many have the trial data of Indian Companies," he said.

(Ref : The Economic Times dated December 12, 2005)

True Pack To Invest Rs. 8 Cr. For Advanced Pharma Packaging Plant

True Pack, a dedicated pharmaceutical packaging major and a leader in the south India, is investing around Rs 8 crore to set up a state-of-the-art plant close to its present premises at Peenya Industrial Area in Bangalore. The facility, which is around 60,000 sq. ft. will conform to class 100/10K standards. The first phase of construction of 20,000 sq. ft. is expected to be completed by March 2006.

The new plant will allow the company to manufacture of packaging for Small Volume Parenterals, with the unique halogen-free resin - COC, which is a superior replacement for type I glass. In addition, it will also manufacture import, substitute containers for oral solids with DMF No. screw/CRC caps) for the US generic market.

The company's expansion plants come in the wake of a growing export market for pharma packaging. Currently, exports, contribute only 10 per cent of its turnover of Rs 16 crore.

True Pack also plans to set up its own gamma sterilization plant in Bangalore. The 8-year-old True Pack, which is a part of the London-based Comcraft & Tecapet Group, has pioneered the concept of design and manufacture of Three Piece Droppers using Injection Blow Moulding Technology (IBM), which is housed in a modern Class 10K facility at Bangalore. This product is used for packing ophthalmic, nasal and other oral drops.

(Ref : Chronicle Pharmabiz dated December 15, 2005)