Biotech major Biocon is planning to sell anti-cholesterol drug, atorvastatin, in the US from FY2013.

The US market for atorvastatin opened up recently for generic companies. Biocon plans to follow Watson and Ranbaxy, which have already released their products and are currently under six months' exclusivity phase.

“We have partnerships for atorvastatin active ingredient and we expect these partners to commercialise the products in the US from FY13 onwards,” Mr Rakesh Bamzai, President-Marketing, Biocon told Business Line .

“The company is one of the largest producers of statins. We continue to focus significantly on our statins portfolio. You will see developments from the month of May,” he added.

The company has seen a significant growth in branded atorvastatin (Statix) as well as sales of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) .

Similarly, Biocon is planning to tap the European market, where it is currently selling atorvastatin with its partners.

“In Europe, a few countries are still open, but the patents are expiring. Our products should be in those markets pretty soon,” Mr Bamzai recently told analysts.

Biocon has major presence in emerging and unregulated markets with its branded atorvastatin (Statix).

On the company's biopharmaceuticals business , Mr Bamzai said: “The existing products continue to grow and new launches will happen. Emerging markets will be growing with the new product launches happening there.”

anil.u@thehindu.co.in

comment COMMENT NOW