If your local pet-shop is out of de-worming medicine Prazipet, it is because drug-maker Cipla is discontinuing a clutch of veterinary medicines in the domestic market.

Products to be discontinued

“Apart from Prazivet, we are also discontinuing some other products like Otivet (ear-cleanser for dogs and cats), Doxivet (an antibiotic), OTC spray (oxytetracycline – an antibiotic) and Otikfree (ear drops),” a Cipla official told Business Line .

“We feel that the domestic veterinary market (large animals and poultry) is not attractive enough to allocate large resources at this stage,” the official said, explaining why some products are being discontinued in the local market.

Cipla will, however, continue to market products in the pet and equine-care (for horses) space, the official added. These products include Lomac equine paste (omeprazole – an ulcerant), Clavet tabs (antibiotic), Fatsup liquid (nutritional supplement), Protektor spot on (anti-fleas) and Petcam (meloxicam, for anti-inflammation purposes) suspension.

Cipla's local veterinary product portfolio is estimated at about Rs 2 crore, while its international revenue from veterinary products is about Rs 100 crore.

Disorganised market

The domestic veterinary market is highly disorganised, the official observed, adding that it required promotion to famers and producers, a totally different ball-game from promotion of human medicines.

Also, increasing inflation and raw material costs require companies to rein in their operations for greater internal efficiencies, another official familiar with the development said, explaining the decision.

Nevertheless, industry representatives point out that the estimated Rs 2,000-crore domestic veterinary market is set to see intense activity, with the participation of several global players including Swiss-company Novartis, US-based Pfizer, French companies Virbac and Vetoquinol, Dutch company Provimi and Germany head-quartered Boehringer Ingelheim.

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