Ind-Swift to launch new low-priced tablets

Our Corporate Bureau

Mumbai, Aug 21: THE Chandigarh-based Ind-Swift is set to launch the lowest priced candesartan and pioglitazone tablets in the cardiology and diabetology segments, respectively. While candesartan will be marketed under the brand name, Candez, pioglitazone will be branded as Glitter. The company be only be the second to launch candesartan formulation in India after Ranbaxy.

Candez would be made available at a market price of Rs 2.50 per tablet, which is by far the lowest, company sources said. Glitter is also to be launched simultaneously at Rs 2 per tablet. The price is around 60 per cent lower than the price of other brands of the molecule available in the market.

Ind-Swift joint managing director, Dr G Munjal said: “Low price has been a result of the technological advancements provided by the R&D in the company’s bulk manufacturing unit.”

Candesartan is a new generation drug with the total segment market of around Rs 1,200 crore. The growth rate for the segment is one of the highest at 32 per cent as against the industry growth of 4.5 per cent. Ind-Swift hopes to capture 35 per cent of the total market share within a year of the launch according to the sources. On the other hand, the anti-diabetic therapeutic segment of pioglitazone is also growing at 33 per cent, the highest growth rate among all segments. The total segment market is estimated at Rs 487 crore in which the share of glitazones is around Rs 20 crore.

Dr Munjal informed that there is a lot of potential for both Candez and Glitter. India has the highest number of cases of diabetic and heart disorders and 60 per cent of the people living in small towns and rural areas are still undiagnosed and hence remain an untapped market.

During 2000-01, the company launched 25 products in the high growth therapeutic segments of diabetology, neurology, cardiology and anti-viral to be marketed by its four divisions.