MUMBAI, Feb 14: The Rs 100-crore anti-epileptic market is headed for more tremors on the competition front. After Knoll Pharma's recent acquisition of Epilex from Reckitt & Colman, Hoechst Marion Roussel plans to bring in its entire range of anti-epileptic drugs as part of a broader, long-term strategy.The German multinational recently launched a versatile add-on anti-epileptic brand, Frisium (Clobazam), particularly effective in treating chronic therapy-resistant epilepsy.
Hoechst Marion Roussel executive director (marketing), Bashir Ahmed, told The Financial Express that the Frisium launch was based on a long-term strategy to bring in an entire range of anti-epileptic drugs essentially from the Marion Merrell Dow (MMD) portfolio. Hoechst had acquired Marion Merrell Dow of US in 1995.
The MMD portfolio includes significant brands like Teicoplannin (an antibiotic), Sabril (an anti-epileptic), besides others like Fexofenedine and Vigabatrin.
Ahmed said that the company hoped to capture about 70per cent of the add-on anti-epileptic drugs market in the first year of launch, given that there are no major add-on brands in the market. Add-on drugs are used along with first-line therapy drugs.
While the anti-epileptic drugs market is growing at about 30 per cent per annum, the growth in the add-ons market is expected to be better. Key players in the market include Novartis, Parke-Davis, Knoll Pharma, Torrent and Sun Pharma.
The Frisium launch, Ahmed said, was expected to benefit about 10 per cent of all epileptic patients who do not respond to conventional single-drug therapy. Frisium (clobazam) does not have the usual side-effects like sedation or hampered cognition and is safe for use by children as well as adults. While treatment with first-line drugs like carbamazepine or sodium valproate would cost about Rs 8 to Rs 10 and Rs 7.50 to Rs 15 respectively per day, Hoechst's Frisium would cost about Rs 2.70 -- Rs 5 daily. Frisium is available in three strengths -- 5mg, 10mg and 20mg.
Ahmed saidthat while Hoechst was importing the bulk drug for Frisium, formulation was being done at the company's Ankleshwar facility in Gujarat. No royalty is payable on this product to the parent company and Hoechst has no co-marketing plans, as of now, in this segment, he added. About 350 medical representatives will be entrusted with the task of promoting Frisium.Hoechst already has a co-marketing arrangement with Ranbaxy for certain anti-infectives and is examining the possibility of extending this to certain dermatological products.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
