Mankind to set up R&D center in Delhi

Jayashree Padmini, New Delhi

The New Delhi-based Mankind Pharmaceuticals which has witnessed spectacular growth in a decade’s time is setting up a full fledged R&D facility in Delhi. Talking to Express Pharma Pulse, R C Juneja, MD, Mankind said, “We have already purchased land in Okhla and the estimated investment in the R&D facility is Rs 10 crore”. This is in view of the post 2005 WTO regime where the company is looking at tying up with global companies as part of survival strategy.

The company has also outlined its export plans and would set up an export division inducting new people by March next year. The countries identified include that in the CIS region and Eastern Europe. Product registration process in the target countries would start off in March. Mankind sees huge potential for antibiotics — single molecule in the overseas market to embark on its export initiative.

The company, which is at the third position after Cipla and Ranbaxy in the quinolones segment, is venturing into dermatological segment, which by current estimates is at Rs 759.37crore. The products from Mankind are nadifloxacin, kojic Acid, muprirocin and povidonlod with metronidazole.

According to AC Neilson ORG MARG data for September 2003 Mankind is ranked 26th and registered a growth rate of 58 per cent. Three of the Mankind products, say, Zenflox, Manforce and Nuforce are on number one position. Zenflox is a Rs 30 crore brand. Mankind expects to touch a turnover of Rs 150 crore in the financial year ending March 31, 2004.

Mankind entered into antihypertensive segment by launching various cardiovascular drugs like Cardika, Cardika-AM, Atekind, Amlokind and Amlokind-AT, Nuforce Mouth Paint , Nuforce Shampoo, Nuforce -3kit, Clopikind-AS, NuroKind-OD, Nurokind Inj., Le-Cope, Nobel Gel, Pantadem & Mahacef-100/200.

One of the fastest growing pharma companies in India as per IMS (Jan-Dec, 2002) Mankind registered Rs 108.42 crore turnover in last financial year 2002-2003. Started its operations with a field force of only 53 MRs in 1995 the company now employs 750 field personnel. Hyper aggressive in marketing as R C Juneja puts it the company is looking to spread to the south and the north east in the coming years.

In 1999 the company launched innovative product Ranidom in Indian market. At present Ranidom is ranked 2nd as per ORG-MARG. In 2000 the company launched Nobel-MR which is at present at No. 2 as per ORG-MARG. An antidiarrhoeal Zenotin in both tablet & suspension form was also launched. At present Zenotin is again no. 2 as per ORG-MARG.

The company launched maximum products in 2001, Nuforce range, Rofidin, Repare, Manforce, Cefakind, Fynal, Bandy and an innovative combination Omidom. Nuforce and Manforce are at No. 1 as per ORG-MARG and Omidom is at No. 4. Manforce has become a brand of Rs 11 crore, Nuforce a brand of Rs 2.5 crore, Fynal Rs two crore and Omidom Rs 2.5 crore. Major achievement of the company in 2002 was the launching of new division ‘Discovery Mankind’ and maximum recruitment took place this year. The company also introduced products like Gatikind, Nucope, Flozen-NS, Validay and innovative combination Nobel Spas. The turnover this year was Rs 108.42 crores with the growth of 55.7 per cent.