• Investment World
• eWorld
• Brand Line
• Mentor
• Life
• Brand Quest
• The New Manager
• BL Club
• Smartbuy
• Books
• Gallery

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Cross Currency

• Rates
  
  

Shipping

• Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources
• In Focus
• In Depth
• Events 2007

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• The Hindu ePaper
• Business Line
• Business Line ePaper
• Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

G. Naga Sridhar

Hyderabad, Sept. 11 Natco Pharma Ltd is in talks with a few global majors for entering into supply and distribution pacts to sell some of its generic products.

“We have about five/six generic products which have good potential in the international markets. We plan to access this market with the tie-ups,” Mr P. Bhaskara Narayana, Chief Finance Officer of Natco Pharma, told Business Line.

“This has been our de-risking strategy with regard to the costs of filing Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs),” he said.

Recently, the Hyderabad-based company had tied up with Mylan Inc and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd for supply/distribution of Copaxone-R (for multiple sclerosis) and development supply and distribution of five oncological products respectively.

“We have also received initial upfront payments from Mylan,” he added.

While declining to disclose the products and names of the companies involved in negotiations currently, he said: “The players are from both India and abroad.”

The company, which wanted to acquire retail pharmacy chains in the US earlier, had kept those plans in abeyance temporarily due to recession there. “However, we continue to scout for good opportunities if they can provide value for money,” Mr Narayana said.

The company operates three retail chains in the US – K &C Pharmacy (a partnership firm), Nicks Drugs and SaveMart.

On Albupax, its breast cancer drug which was recalled in July following an order from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), he said the company was talking to DGCI on the issue.

The DGCI had said that the drug might cause damage to liver.

Natco is not foreseeing any adverse impact on its revenue due to slowdown this year.

Its net profit increased five per cent at Rs 8 crore in the first quarter ended June 30, 2009 compared with Rs 7.68 crore in the corresponding quarter of previous fiscal. The revenue increased 17 per cent at Rs 73 crore.

More Stories on : Outlook | Channels and Franchises | Pharmaceuticals

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

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line