Indian pharma firms develop niche portfolios
They aim to take advantage of generic growth in the US over the next two years
For the US market, Indian companies are developing niche portfolios in various segments. High-margin injectables, dermatology, respiratory, biosimilars and complex generics, for example, have become an area of interest.
Most Indian drug majors have been working on these niche drugs to optimise growth and margins. With generic penetration in the US expected to increase to 87% over the next couple of years from the current 83%, Indian firms are set to benefit.
Glenmark is hoping for a big growth from the US market in the 2017 financial year, with its anti cholesterol drug Zetia expected to be the key revenue generator. Similarly, Hyderabad-based Aurobindo Pharma secured around 30 product approvals and launched 18 to 20 of these in the US in the first nine months of the current financial year. The company reported more than 30% growth in revenue from the US market in Q3, year-on-year.
Zydus Cadila has received tentative approval from the US FDA for Clofarabine injection, a cancer cure. Clofarabine is used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in paediatric patients aged 1-21. This will help the company market the product in the US market.
The group now has more than 100 approvals and has filed over 280 abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) since 2003-04.