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Aptar Pharma gears up to increase presence
in India with a range of nasal & pulmonary devices
Aptar Pharma India Pvt Ltd, a drug delivery device major is
gearing up to increase its market presence in the country with its range of
pulmonary and nasal drug dispensing products.
With an increasing number of Indian pharma companies
introducing products that are delivered through the nasal or pulmonary route
there is a clear indication on the huge interest generated for such dispensing
devices. In this connection, we are also looking to penetrate into the country
further with our range, Kanwal Tikoo, director, Aptar Pharma India Pvt Ltd told
Pharmabiz.
Mumbai-based Aptar Pharma India is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of the Aptar Group, US. The range of products for the Indian market are Metered
Dose Inhalers (MDIs) for pulmonary route and Metered Dose Pumps for Nasal,
buccal and dermal routes.
The drug delivery devices market will be $34.5 billion in
2010. Pulmonary delivery is through aerosols, metered dose inhaler systems (MDIs),
powders (dry powder inhalers, DPIs) and solutions (nebulizers). Aerosol products
for pulmonary delivery comprise more than 30 per cent of the global drug
delivery market. Globally the drug delivery devices constitute 2 percent of the
pharmaceutical market.
Among the Indian pharma companies which are using such drug
delivery devices include Lupin, Glenmark, Cipla, Zydus Cadila, Dr Reddy's,
Mcleods Pharma, Midas Care and Biodeal to name a few. Some of these companies
are also third party fillers.
Regulatory approvals are required by the pharma companies,
but the drug delivery devices are primary packaging component, so the device
manufacturers are not obliged to seek regulatory approvals. However, a stringent
quality regimen has to be followed during manufacture of such devices to enable
pharma companies comply with regulatory requirements with respect to devices
they use on their products, stated Tikoo.
Pulmonary drug delivery is viewed as a viable option in
respiratory disorders like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The
use of devices is also expended for treatment of non-respiratory conditions like
diabetes, migraine and osteoporosis. Even dry powder inhalation (DPI), is
much-sought-after in the non-invasive drug delivery process.
Companies are also beginning to explore the benefits of nasal
drug delivery as an alternative to oral or injectable methods of delivering
systemic drugs for a variety of diseases. Around two per cent of the overall
drug delivery is administered via the nasal route. Vaccines are also a growing
area of interest for nasal drug delivery.
In India too, drug delivery devices constitute around two per
cent of the Rs 44,000 crore Indian pharma market. Other well-known global drug
delivery device companies are 3M and Bespak.
(Ref: The Chronicle Pharmabiz dated August 22, 2009)
Pharmexcil Constitutes Export Awards
For Indian Pharma Companies
In order to encourage the export activities of the Indian
pharma companies, the Pharmaceutical Exports Promotion Council (Pharmexcil) is
in the process of introducing exports awards to the companies which has
demonstrated outstanding export performance in the last four years.
The Council has invited applications from pharma exporters in
the country and will commence the selection process for the best performance
under a separate committee of experts after August 25, 2009. The awards will be
presented to the winners in the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Council,
which will be held in September 2009, informs Dr P V Appaji, executive director,
Pharmexcil.
"We have tried to introduce such a recognition to the
companies earlier too. But the response from the industry was very poor at that
time. Now, we have received a good response. We will also try to collect
company-wise exports data from the central government to identify the eligible
company though they have not applied for the award," he said. "The recognition
from the council would encourage the companies to boost their exports
performance in future," Appaji said.
The awards will be distributed for two categories - General
Category and Product Category and there will be one trophy and one merit
certificates and one award for emerging exporter in each of the category. Awards
will be bestowed for the best performance for the years 2005-06, 2006-07,
2007-08 and 2008-09. The Council is also planning to present the awards annually
at its AGM from next year onwards.
The Council will accept application forms for the awards till
August 25, 2009 and will forward it to the expert committee appointed by the
Committee of Administration for their recommendations.
(Ref: The Chronicle Pharmabiz dated August 21, 2009)
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