Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Friday, Mar 26, 2004
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Friday, Mar 26, 2004 |
||
|
|
||
|
Corporate
-
Alliances & Joint Ventures Elder Pharma inks pact with French co for skincare products Our Bureau
Mumbai , March 25 THE concept of "dermoceuticals" may be in its infancy in India, but the Paris-based Laboratories Biorga feels that the Indian market is ready. The company has entered into an exclusive marketing tie-up with the Mumbai-based Elder Pharma to promote some of the former's high-end skin care products in India. This would mark Elder's foray into the segment of "cosmoceuticals" or "dermoceuticals". According to Elder Pharma officials, the association is likely to bring in about Rs 8 crore in the next three-odd years. Mr Stephane Thevignot, Director (International Operations), told Business Line that the Indian market was ready for niche dermatological or skin-related products. Dermoceuticals, he said, plugged the gap between being an over-the-counter skin product and a medicine prescribed by the doctor. The product had undergone clinical trials, he said, differentiating it from the average skin creams. The alliance also marks the 25th in-licensing agreement for the estimated Rs 235-crore Elder Pharma and about 30 of Biorga's skin-related products would be marketed in India. The company would target dermatologists or skin specialists, as it would be sold only through the ethical route, i.e. on being prescribed by a doctor. Part of the Biorga Uriage Group, Biorga is a 43-million euro company. The company has about 80 products in it's portfolio and it sells in about 45 countries. The Unique Selling Proposition of Biorga's products is that they use Uriage spa water as a base, Mr Thevignot said. Uriage is a viallge in the South East of France and the thermal water from the spa has medicinal properties, he added. Elaborating on the benefits of using spa water, he said that the products have no side-effects, unlike other skin products that leave the skin dry. Other global competitors in this segment include France's Avene and L'Oreal's Roche Posay and Vichy. All the manufacturing is done in France, since the company has its captive spring there. Exports account for about 20 per cent of the company's turnover. Besides selling in France, the company sells in Europe, West Asia and Asia. "In Asia, Japan is a big market and China is growing strongly," he said. They also sell to Taiwan and South Korea. In the skin category, the products would address problems such as damaged, sensitive or pigmented skin, severely dry skin, anti-ageing, sunscreen, hair loss, dandruff treatment and acne. The products would, however, be priced at a premium and range between Rs 350 to Rs 1,000 depending on the product, said Mr Shishir Mishra of Elder Pharma. He said that the local skin care market was estimated to be about Rs 1,700 crore and the ethical dermatological segment would be about Rs 50 crore in about four years.
More Stories on : Alliances & Joint Ventures | Pharmaceuticals | Health
Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page
|
Stories in this Section |
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | The Hindu Images | Home |
Copyright © 2004, The
Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu Business Line
|