Kopran Pharma chief and director (business development), Adarsh Somani, told The Financial Express that the ayurvedic skin-care range was expected to be ready for launch approximately eight months down the line. The new products will be based on the company's in-house research and development effort.

The proposed launch of the new skin-care range comes when flagship brand, Smyle, has notched sales worth Rs 10 lakh per month in Mumbai city alone, just over a year after its launch. The Smyle range comprises a sore throat reliever, a mouth ulcer gel and a nasal inhaler, though Somani did not rule out the addition of more brands in the ear-nose-throat (ENT) care segment.

The Smyle sore throat reliever is probably the first ayurvedic syrup that can be gargled before gulping, thereby relievinginflammation and offering systemic relief. The nasal inhaler is based on the remedial properties of eucalyptus.

Significantly, Somani said that even before the company had invested in advertising for the nasal inhaler and mouth ulcer gel, the brands had carved a niche for themselves. "Even without a single ad on our nasal inhaler, we are netting sales of approximately Rs 3.50 lakh per month, essentially due to the widespread acceptance of the Smyle throat reliever," he said.

Kopran Pharma is targeting sales of roughly Rs 5 crore for the entire Smyle range in the current fiscal and hopes to scale the Rs 15 crore mark in another three years.