The Hindu Business Line : Concept Pharma looks to OTC, multi-lateral deals to grow

Mumbai, Feb. 7 Plans to participate in more international tenders of multi-lateral agencies, besides expanding its presence in the generic and OTC (over-the-counter) segments are some of the growth strategies charted by Concept Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

The company has just rolled-out Ajar, its herbal OTC product that targets symptoms of ageing, including working as an anti-oxidant, anti-anxiety and strengthening immunity. Comprising five ingredients, including Spirulina, the product was launched initially as a prescription product after clinical trials were done on it, said Mr A.B. Gupta, Managing Director, Concept Pharmaceuticals.

The product was subsequently converted into an OTC, he told Business Line, and the company would adopt the same strategy for the six-odd OTC products in its pipeline. Ajar is priced at Rs 190 for 30 capsules. The company expects to clock revenues of Rs 150 crore in the current financial year and projects a 50 per cent growth in the forthcoming year, he said.

Concept was launched as an independent entity in 1985 as part of the Lupin Group under the leadership of Mr Gupta, the co-founder of Lupin and younger brother of Lupin’s Chairman Dr D.B. Gupta. Lupin, subsequently, divested its stake, Mr Gupta told Business Line. The company will take a call in six to eight months time on tapping the capital market, he added.

Anti-TB drugs

Having participated last year in a World Bank tender, following which it supplied anti-Tuberculosis (TB) medicines, he said, the company is looking to participate in more such tenders.

Last year’s World Bank-aided deal was about Rs 22 crore, he said, and added that this year too, the company had bagged a similar deal and would be supplying Rs 25 crore worth of anti-TB drugs.

Concept has about six manufacturing facilities, including a finished dosages plant coming up in Uttaranchal. It has two bulk drug and two formulation plants in Aurangabad and one formulation plant in Nepal, he said.

The company is also set to foray into the cardiac and dermatology segments. In fact, the next OTC from the company is an all-purpose cream, he said. Concept has a 500-plus field-force to support the marketing of its products, he added.

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