The Hindu Business Line : GSK bets on in-licensing for growth in India

IT is not just local pharma companies, but multinational drug majors too that are betting on in-licensing as a strategy for growth in India. GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd has said that it is negotiating with an innovator company to in-license a drug used to treat ulcers.

GSKPL is looking at proton pump inhibitors, part of a family of drugs used to treat stomach ulcers, as a growth segment in India and the company is negotiating with the innovator of a leading drug in this segment, said Mr Kalyanasundaram, GSKPL's Managing Director.

Sharing the company's "India-specific strategy," he said that GSK would look to collaborate with other overseas companies looking to operate in India.

GSKPL's three other in-licensed products are Calcium Citrate Maleate (CCM), Zimig (terbenafine) and Vozet (levocetrazine).

Diabetes would be another segment where GSK is looking to fortify itself and leading this portfolio is rosiglitazone, GSK's patented drug. Rosiglitazone is slated for launch in the second half of this year, he said.

Rosiglitazone was under litigation when the product was denied an exclusive marketing strategy in India, but Mr Kalyanasundaram said that the company would market the drug, even as it applies for a patent on the drug.

Incidentally, the drug already has me-too versions in the local market and, according to an industry watcher, the company would look to get a patent and subsequently could seek to prevent local versions from selling in the domestic market.

Besides diabetes, GSK is looking to modernise its portfolio in cardio-vascular and the central nervous system segments as well, company officials said. Developing vaccines, a Rs 100-crore plus business for GSK, is another area that the company is bullish about.

Meanwhile, Mr Kalyanasundaram said that the Government's directive to levy excise on the Maximum Retail Price on drugs would impact the company. However, he added, there were no plans to change the supply arrangement.

Mulund plant on the block

WITH the sale of GSK's Worli facility now sealed and done, the company is taking up the Mulund plant, which belonged to the now merged Burroughs Wellcome.

Mr Mehernosh Kapadia, GSK's Senior Executive Director, said the process had been initiated and the company would look to conclude the deal this year. Company top brass had earlier indicated that they would look to dispose the facility, plant and land. Last year GSK sealed the sale of its Worli facility at Rs 107 crore.

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