The Hindu Business Line : CD Pharma keen on licensing pact with big cos for probiotics

New Delhi, July 5 CD Pharma, the Indian subsidiary of the US-based VSL Pharmaceuticals, is in talks with a few leading health-oriented FMCG companies for a licensing arrangement that will bring probiotic snack food to the market. However, it is the probiotic drugs that the company hopes to see in the market before the next 12 months, before the snacks hit the consumer shelves.

“We have entered into a licensing agreement with a few big pharma companies for some of our brands. Talks are on with a leading pharma company for both capsule and sachet forms of our registered lactic acid proprietary product, under the brand name VSL#3,” said Mr K.S. Chadha, Director –Asia Pacific, VSL Pharmaceuticals Inc.

The company also expects to launch its brand for the treatment of oral ulcers, and one for gynaecological disorder in the near future. What differentiates CD Pharma’s probiotics, said Mr Chadha, is a portfolio of products “that are not adjuvants but proven by clinical research to be beneficial in the treatment of several serious conditions.”

Probiotics (generally used as dietary supplement that contains potentially beneficial bacteria or yeast, with lactic acid bacteria) is being increasingly accepted for its therapeutic benefits world over. CD Pharma has more than a dozen patents awaiting approval from Indian regulators. It is also conducting clinical trials with different products across indications such as ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bacterial vaginosis, chronic periodontitis, obesity related fatty liver disease and food related allergy and other therapeutic areas.

Convincing Indians will not be difficult, said Mr Chadha, “Indians are used to yogurt and curd, and have a greater acceptance and knowledge of the benefits of such products.” According to Mr Chadha the Indian market for probiotics is valued at Rs 100 crore and growing at 30 to 40 per cent year on year.

The company claims VSL#3 has proven its efficacy for not just disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome and liver dysfunction in chronic liver disease, but also for rotaviral diarrhoea, that is believed to be responsible for 6 lakh infant deaths annually in developing countries. Mr Chadha points out that most of these trials have been published in reputed medical journals such as the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

CD Pharma’s parent company has also developed an anti-ageing cream using lactic acid bacteria that could actually rejuvenate the ceramide building capacity of the body. The company that concentrates on R&D, is in talks with leading pharmaceutical as well as cosmetic companies both in India as well as outside to market the product.