The Hindu Business Line : Allergan to expand Botox market in India

Mumbai, Jan. 28 With 20 approved indications in 77 countries, it is no wonder that Allergan’s flagship product Botox is referred to as a “pipeline in a product”.

And with Botox having grossed the $1-billion mark globally last year – Allergan is looking to expand the therapeutic and cosmetic use of its flagship product in India, at present a nascent market for such products.

Given its popularity in the cosmetic segment, to help rid the face of wrinkles, Allergan is looking to train doctors in the country to administer the product right to consumers.

“We are looking to leverage 17 years of learning with the product,” Allergan’s Vice-President and Managing Director (India, China and Japan), Mr Rajkumar Narayanan, told Business Line.

Even as the prospects for Botox in markets like India are beginning to open up, he said, clinical trials are being conducted globally for other applications of Botox in future.

Cosmetic applications account for about 45 per cent of the products’ revenues. But Botox is also used in cerebral palsy and the company is undertaking global trials for headache, the prostrate and an over-active bladder, he said.

Headache application

The company will file for regulatory approval on the headache application with the US Food and Drug Administration, he indicated.

Touching sales of $1 billion was a milestone for Botox, which the $4 billion Allergan achieved last year, he said. And in India, the company is looking to increase awareness on the product, especially with specialist doctors like dermatologists and plastic surgeons.

As part of its training, about 600 doctors will be trained across 12 cities, said Mr Rajeev Nagi, Allergan’s Director-Sales and Marketing. The product, imported from the company’s factory in Ireland, costs about Rs 16,500 for a 100 unit vial. In the US, it is sold at about $450. About 25,000 procedures have been done in India, he said. Allergan’s revenues in India stand at about Rs 100 crore.

More Stories on : Outlook | Pharmaceuticals

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page