Drug maker Natco Pharma plans to introduce 8-10 products in the domestic branded formulations segment as well as target more than 20% year-on-year growth in the current fiscal.
In an investor presentation it submitted to the bourses on Monday, the Hyderabad-based firm counted these among its near-term goals. Maintaining leadership position in the oncology and gastro-hepatology segments, building on the traction in the newly-unveiled Cardiology and Diabetology (CnD) division and extension of the Hep-C franchise through the introduction of Velpanat are the other components of its growth strategy.
Unveiled earlier this year, with a focus on making speciality medicines accessible to all, the CnD division is working on a pipeline of products. These would add to the existing portfolio that includes DPP4 inhibitors — Teneligliptin, Teneligliptin and Metformin — for treatment of type 2 diabetes and a list of anti-hypertensives.
On the complex generics front, the company expects approval this fiscal for key molecules – Copaxone, Lanthanum Carbonate and Bosentan. It also plans to extend the Tamiflu franchise with the launch of the suspension version.
In the fourth quarter of 2016-17, consolidated net profit of Natco Pharma increased 181.4% to ₹176.7 crore, as compared with the ₹62.8 crore in the year-earlier period, on the back of launch of the generic version of Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) influenza drug in the US in December 2016.
The company, which launched the generic version with marketing partner Alvogen. also intends to continue with the de-risking strategy. Apart from product specific partnerships with global generic players at different stages of a potential ANDA filing, the company enters into de-risked arrangements with marketing partner with the partner responsible for the litigation and regulatory process to secure the ANDA approval.
Separately, on Monday, Natco Pharma announced the receipt of final approval for an Abbreviated New Drug Application from the USFDA for Lanthanum Carbonate chewable tablets 500 mg, which are indicated to reduce serum phosphate in patients with End-Stage Renal Disease.
The product, as the first generic, will be launched shortly in the U.S. market. The tablets are generic equivalents of Shire Development LLC’s Fosrenol chewable tablets that had US sales of $ 122.4 million (IMS MAT June 2017). Lupin and Natco have an agreement to jointly commercialise generic equivalents of Fosrenol tablets.