The Hindu Business Line : Pfizer to bring in cardiac, anti-infective drug this year

Promoting products
After having sold four consumer healthcare brands to Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer is now investing in promoting the products that remain with it, like Ferradol and Gelusil.

P.T. Jyothi Datta

Mumbai, April 15 Pfizer is set to bring in its cardio-vascular and anti-infective drug into the country in the second quarter of this year, Pfizer India’s Managing Director, Mr Kewal Handa, said.

The two products are existing products in the parent company’s portfolio and are not under patent protection, he told Business Line. Only last week, Pfizer had locally launched cyclokapron, used in hospitals to prevent or stop bleeding. Earlier this year, Pfizer had brought its tobacco-cessation product Champix into the country.

In fact, Pfizer is set to put its marketing might behind the promotion of Champix, he said, with an advertising campaign slated to go on air in a week’s time. More awareness through doctors’ clinics and Champix clubs are also on the anvil, he said, unwilling to specify the company’s promotional spend.

After having sold four consumer healthcare brands to Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer is now investing in promoting the products that remain with it, like Ferradol and Gelusil.

“We are looking at heightening the detailing, presentation, packaging and branding,” he said. Last year, the company lost Rs 60 crore of business on account of the sale of the four brands, he said, adding that it retained Rs 80 crore of business.

Earlier this year, Pfizer Ltd had got its board’s approval to transfer four of its consumer health brands, including mouthwash Listerine, cough syrup Benadryl, skin cream Caladryl and cough suppressant Benylin to Johnson & Johnson for a consideration of Rs 214.85 crore. The development in India was about 18 months after the global transfer was announced between the two companies.

Pfizer’s consumer health portfolio in India now includes Gelusil, Nebasulf, Selsun, Ferradol, Neko and Waterbury’s Compound.

Regulatory hurdles

Meanwhile, Pfizer’s cough syrup Corex continues to see regulatory hurdles, as seen with similar products in this category, due to the presence of codine. The company has stopped selling Corex in the North-East due to misuse in the border areas, he told shareholders.

Pfizer shares were marginally down on the BSE at Rs 671.85 on Tuesday.

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