Before Rewriting
Probiotic drugs market to grow
At least 39 probiotic drug brands, mainly in the area of gastroenterology, from 30 major Indian companies have already created a probiotics drug market in India worth Rs 80 crore, with an year-on-year growth of 41.1 per cent in 2006. The market was likely to grow further in the coming years as many of the major Indian pharmaceutical companies are in the process of developing and in-licensing probiotic drugs, according to industry sources.
Darolac and Sporlac, two gastro-related drugs in this category from Aristo Pharmaceuticals and Uni-Sankyo respectively, enjoy a market share of Rs 7.9 crore each. Tablets India’s Bifilac, prescribed for antibiotics induced diarrhoea, is the largest brand currently in India with an annual sales of Rs 9.9 crore. US Vitamin’s ViBact is another major brand in this category with a turnover of Rs 8.2 crore, according to the data from ORG-IMS.
Other major players in the probiotics market in India include companies like Ranbaxy (Binifit), Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, which has four probiotic brands, Zydus Cadila, Unichem, JB Chem, and GlaxoSmithKline. Since antibiotics reduce the immunity of patients, doctors now prefer to prescribe probiotic drugs and health supplements to enhance immunity. It is a highly growing segment in India.
Tablets India, which has technological tie-ups with TOA Pharma of Japan and Chr. Hansen A of Denmark for development of probiotic drugs, has launched an oral tablet for vaginal infections. The drug is marketed by Glenmark under the brand name `Ecoflora’. The probiotic ingredient market in the US will reach $450 million by 2010. Overall probiotics health product market is set to reach $5 billion in the near future from the $3.9 billion in 2006.
After Rewriting
Market for Probiotic Drugs to Grow
The Indian probiotics drug market, valued at Rs 80 crore in 2006 is surging at an annual growth rate of 41%. About 30 companies operate in the market with more than 39 probiotic drugs in the field of gastroenterology.
The market is expected to grow further in future, because several main Indian pharmaceutical firms are licensing and developing probiotic drugs.
Bifilac from Tablets India, used for diarrhea caused by antibiotics, with Rs. 9.9 crore annual sales, is a biggest probiotic brand, followed by ViBact from US Vitamin with Rs. 8.2 crore turnover. Two-probiotic gastro drugs, Sporlac from Uni-Sankyo, and Darolac from Aristo Pharmaceuticals have Rs. 7.9 crore market share each.
Ranbaxy, manufacturer of Binifit, JB Chem, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories with four brands of probiotic, Zydus Cadila, GlaxoSmithKline and Unichem are other main companies in the growing Indian probiotics market.
Tablets India in technical associations with Denmark’s Chr. Hansen A and Japan’s TOA Pharma for probiotic drug development, introduced oral tablet `Ecoflora’ for vaginal infection treatment. Glenmark markets the drug.
Doctors have now opted for immunity improving health supplements and probiotic drugs in place of antibiotics that reduce immunity By 2010, US market for probiotic ingredients expected to reach US$450 million. The market for health products is projected to reach US$5 billion in the years ahead from an estimated $3.9 billion in the year 2006.
