Gland Pharma – Has a Slot of its Own and Inching Along Well

Pharmaceutical industry in India is earning encomiums from people across every nook and corner of the world. So much that it has pushed the software segment into wayside and as on date remains the hottest business segment around. The beauty of this segment is that Indian medical products are just one-fifth of the rates prevailing in the world markets. This has proved to be a clincher since they have turned to be a goldmine and a valuable foreign exchange earner. Some of the Indian medical products have given its western equivalents a run for their money and certainly made a wake up call. In addition to this, they have proved to be a boon for the Indian consumers too. One such Indian drug major, which has won good acclaim, is Gland Pharma. The company has been around for quite a while, as years gone by has got along better and looks ahead confidently.

Started way back in the year 1978, 22 years have elapsed and yet this company has managed to stick along and that too well, very well. The gland has stretched, elongated and diversified into newer areas while consolidating the existing ones. And all the diversification has spawned the production of newer products to roll out from the factory. The products deal with some of the most vital parts of a human system. We will come to that later, meanwhile let’s get a feel of the more vital factors and make out as to what made this company a pretty well known pharmaceutical giant. It may be a dwarf to its opposite illustrious counterpart Dr Reddys Labs (the company’s office is opposite to Gland Pharma’s office), nevertheless has a name all its own and also a place all its own. We are going to the nitty gritty of the same and find out as to why it is so-

History

The company took off as an exclusive facility for Small Volume Parenterals (SVPs) and today stands apart as a company which has churned out nearly 500 million vials / ampoules. For all the gains and pains it can today proudly boast of being a ISO 9002 certified company. The battles and trials have been worth every penny, they have turned into an ocean of excellence and satisfaction, with many a happy client. The production facility just seems to have got better and as on date the company can feel a tinge of pride to being one of the largest and most experienced contract manufacturer for a number of multinational companies.

Gland Pharma to put it very correctly is a full service contract manufacturer, which possesses excellent facilities and state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment.

Joint Tie-up with Vetter Group, Germany

In the present day and future scenario world having mutual tie-ups with one another will be the norm and as such knowledge known has to be shared and dissipated. This will be for the betterment of both the partners. The company has a tie-up with the fabled Vetter group of Germany.

The German company has a history of 50 years of International Contract Manufacturer of speciality products. Of this, 13 years happens to be in cGMP needs which also comprise those of FDA. All of this has made the German company a top quality and trusted partner with an impeccable record in international markets. The tie-up has resulted in the spawning of a state-of-the-art-facility for SVPs manufacture, which includes pre-filled syringes. The product syringes is said to be the first of its kind in India and took shape in the year 1996.

Products

Heparin formulation has brought a fair name to the company and has spread its reach in the country. The company is rated as a pioneer in this, has sold the same to the premier institutions in the country. In addition, the good run extends to date and seems to only get better. The other products of the company that have proved to be a focus point are:

• Soyestro–Isoflavones– 40 mg cap that is used as a substitute for HRT. The company was the first one to launch this product in India and making the same gain acceptance among the medical fraternity in the country.
• Synject– a drug, which comes under the fulcrum of Viscosupplements, which is used in, knee Osteoarthritis. It contains sodium Hyaluronate in pre-filled syringes, which aims at proper dosage and shuns contamination proceeds. Here again the company is termed as the first Indian company to launch the product and become a trendsetter in PFS technology. With the number of people crossing the age of 40 years on the rapid side, this product has come as a boon.
• Cutenox– launched in March 2001 is hailed as a brand of Enoxaparin and has been developed in the country from starting ground itself. The product has been manufactured with the help of GAGs technology, which has been developed and nurtured by the company. This product plays a major role in the thrombogenesis prevention of acute coronary syndromes. The same is done by sticking weakly to the tissue and plasma proteins, which in turn exerts prolonged and achievable therapeutic effects. The product as on now is imported and marketed by Rhone-Poulene, has been received well and fetched a good name to the company. The other notable point that needs to be mentioned is that with this product the company has become the first one in the world to prepare two molecules of Heparin. The product has also been a green signal by the well-known European pharmacopoeia standards, termed as one of the best in the world.

The other product is Indeparin, which saw a good rise in the years gone by and looks poised to go further up.

How the Company Has Gone By and Revved Up its Profile

The further consolidation of existing products and giving a fillip to the new ones is by no means an easy one. The company has wisely realised this and brought about a radical and professional shift in its marketing touch up. How the same has been done and done so successfully can be made out from the following- it has structured its team and focussed on therapeutic areas. The company has as on now two divisions in its marketing wing: Institution Division, Speciality Division.

The other notable pointer is that it has successfully able to do is introduce better and much more effective customer focus approach. Towards this end, it has taken the following steps –

• The marketing team has been strengthened and a strong culture of team spirit built up leading to better and more effective results. The approach has also witnessed a marked change with more emphasis being laid on therapeutic segments.
• The focus has shifted to training and development.
• The introduction of appraisal based reward system. This has seen a spurt in employee motivation level and consequently the company obtained better results.

Research and Development Spins Around Much Better

The Government of India has put its approval seal on the company’s Research and Development unit. This affirms the company’s commitment towards R&D activity.

The unit is in the able hands of Dr Nadamuni and they have given a spurt to their recognition by coming up with products like SYNJECT, SOYESTRO, CUTENOX and so on. To bring that extra gloss to the achievement, it should be stated that these products were the first of its kind in India and that too by an Indian company. All of these products possess huge markets.

The company knows the worth of Research and Development activity and has invested towards the same in much higher quantities. To put it in brief:

• Formulation Development which includes Drug Delivery System
• Stability studies for Bulk Drug and Formulations
• Co-ordination of Clinical Studies and Clinical Pharmacology Agencies
• Process Development for Bulk Drugs and Fine chemicals and Custom Synthesis
• Analytical Method Development for Bulk Drug Substances and Formulations
• Development of Nutraceuticals

Looking Beyond the National Boundaries

The lure of the global market is powerful and the same has to be done in order to survive in the present globalise set up. The company realises this wisely, created a division called International Business Division in August 2000. The team is, headed by a General Manager, well versed in the business of Pharmaceutical exports.

The notable achievements of the company can be listed as follows:

• The company’s plants in Ameerpet and Dindigul are certified and audited by an International Distribution Company (the largest in the world) from the Netherlands.
• The company exports its popular Heparin products to Sri Lanka and has forwarded its registration dossiers for other products.
• It has an agreement with a leading Brazilian company towards export of Ciprofloxacin Infusion and Fluconazole Infusions. The company has sensed immense opportunities in this area and has worked towards a better consolidation of the same.
• The company is also aiming to strengthen its position in the Chilean market and exports its popular Heparin products.
• The company exports products such as Gentamicin, Diclofenac, Sodium, Amikacin and Dexamethasone to Yemen.
• The company has identified two partners in South Africa vide whom the products will be launched.

The company also exports its products to Venezuela, Syria, Slovakia, Philippines, and Nepal In addition to this; the company is also into the exploration of establishing a joint venture set up with a South African company. The same is in the form of LVPs plant in the cosmopolitan city of Durban. The other notable and significant point is submission of drug master file (DMF) to USFDA and agreement arrival with a North American company for filing ANDA towards manufacture of their products in Gland Pharma’s facility.

Exploration Into Newer Areas

The beauty of any kind of business lies in manifold opportunities which lie ahead, lots of them exist and this is where corporate companies or for that matter any business entity have to show their skill to stay ahead and survive. The opportunities have to be translated into something more tangible, lest it becomes difficult for any business entity to survive. Gland Pharma senses this, looks ahead for further growth options, and thereby swell up its profit making abilities.

• Biotechnologyis an area, which belches out great fortune if properly garnered. The company is on solid ground to tackle this exciting area. With fine expertise and market strengths in a variety of natural products plus an excellent injectable filling facility it is well tuned for biotechnology revolution. The company has chalked out a well-formulated two-point strategy. One of them is establishment of a strong research oriented manufacturing base and the other one is collaboration with established names in the field in those products, which have large market presence.
• GAGs(Glycos Amino Glycans) are another area into which the company has ventured. The company’s products portfolio is good, the production is done through extraction, purification and processing from natural sources.
• Bio informaticsis another area where the company is seeking a foothold. This area is termed as a cutting edge one, which breaks open newer routes to drug discovery. It gets to the bottom of disease process and identifies the path that can help in diagnosis and prognosis of diseases. The company has made a lot of investment in this field and set up a well-honed team of professionals to work on the subject.

With a fine history behind it and well settled as on date, this company has all the attributes of an entity, which is looking ahead confidently and positively.

Contact Information

Chairman: Mr P V N Raju

Managing Director: Dr Ravi Penmesta

Contact Person: Mr CSN Murthy, Head (Business Development), E Mail: csn@glandpharma.com

Address: 6-3-862, Ameerpet, Hyderabad – 500016 Telephone: 6621010, 3402415, 3402157 Fax: +91-40-3402229 E Mail: gland@hd1.vsnl.net.inWebsite: http://glandpharma.com

Plant Address: Plant I: 6-3-862, Ameerpet, Hyderabad – 500016, Plant II: D.P.Pally, Dundigal (Post), Hyderabad – 500043