Introducing the human touch

Eisai is making a foray into the Indian market by introducing two of its popular drugs—Aricep and Parit

Epp News Bureau - Mumbai

Soichi Matsuno, Managing Director Global Pharmaceuticals Business, Eisai and M E Yeolenkar, Dean of Sion hospitals

Tokyo-based Eisai has recently launched its 100 percent Indian subsidiary, Eisai India. Amongst other plans, the Indian subsidiary of the fourth largest Japanese pharmaceutical company aims to tap the Indian market for two of their blockbuster products-Aricep and Parit.

Speaking to the media during his visit to formally launch Eisai India, Mr Soichi Matsuno, Deputy President, Representative Executive Officer and Managing Director, Global Pharmaceutical business said, “In Eisai, we look at India as much more than a consuming market. We look at this country as huge resources for our global market. We are aware of India’s strong talent pool and capabilities in synthetic chemistry, manufacturing and clinical trials. We are actively evaluating the feasibility to carry out these activities in India. We have actively started doing clinical trails in India in three centres. We are here for a long haul.”

Eisai India has launched Aricep (donepezil hydrochloride), the world’s most prescribed therapy for dementia due to Alzheimers. The company has set up a specialised filed force to cover around 21 major Indian cities regarding the same. Besides this, Eisai India has a tie up with Glaxo SmithKline Pharmaceuticals, India to market its Parit (rabeprazole sodium). Parit is Eisai’s original research new generation proton pump inhibitor for gastric disorders. Globally, Aricep has till date clocked in revenues worth US $1.5 billion while Parit has generated revenues around US $1.2 billion.

Emanating from its human healthcare philosophy, Eisai India is also introducing, in the country the concept of ‘memory clinics’ to offer proper treatment and education about dementia due to Alzheimers to Indian patients and their family members. These memory clinics, which will be established in various hospitals, will receive from Eisai, facilities such as validated screening tools for assessment, patient awareness, and education material for the patients as well as the caregivers along with services of a clinical psychologist.

Eisai has inaugurated its first memory clinic at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal (LTM) Hospital at Sion, the same day of launch of Eisai India. This clinic at the LTM hospital will function under the guidance of Dr. Yeolekar, Chairperson and Dean of the hospital in psychiatry department. It will conduct screening of patients suspected for dementia, provide counselling, tips for patient care and many other facilities.

Eisai is a human healthcare company, which aims at patient satisfaction by providing quality products in various therapeutic areas. It also looks at enhancing the stakeholder value and maintaining high level of compliance through quality checks and transparency in operations. The Japanese parent company has thus adopted a global strategy, which involves establishing in-house capacity and skill sets, maintaining control on the value chain and ensuring quality and integrity. This is in line with the company’s corporate philosophy—Do it ourselves.

Eisai primary business line focuses on pharmaceuticals and related healthcare products. The company has already made its presence felt in the US and European markets and is the first Japanese company to enter the Indian markets.

nandini@expresspharmapulse.com