Natco Pharma to launch two new generics soon

Excerpts from Midcap Radar on CNBC-TV18 Watch the full show » RELATED NEWS New patent battle btwn Indian & multinational drug cos ALSO READ See latest News about Natco Pharma See previous management interviews See what other Experts & Brokerages are saying about Natco Pharma Natco Pharma BSE | NSE 25/05/12 Are Mutual Funds betting on Natco Pharma?

Natco Pharma has acquired US-based retail pharmacy Newark Drugs .

 

Rajeev Nannapaneni , CEO, Natco Pharma, said the company has a strong oncology pipeline. "Two new generics are to be launched soon. We are also filing a compulsory license for  HIV drug Celzentry against Pfizer."

 

Excerpts from CNBC-TV18's exclusive interview with Rajeev Nannapaneni:

 

Q: What is the nature of the case that you are looking to file against Pfizer? How soon do you hope for an India launch on this product?

 

A: We are not filing a case against Pfizer. We are filing for a compulsory license for this particular product. According to Indian law, you have to wait for three years after a product patent is granted to file for a compulsory license. We want to file before three years and appeal to the Health Ministry to grant a compulsory license because it's a product which we use for treating AIDS.

 

There are precedents around the world particularly in Brazil and Thailand, where drugs that are used for HIV therapy have been granted compulsory license. As such, we don't expect a resolution right away. But it's a test case and we are just testing the water.

 

Q: How large is the market for this product?

 

A: HIV market is large; it's probably a Rs 300-400 crore market. I can't recollect the exact numbers. We are trying to set a precedent for patent product licenses.

 

Q: Are you going to look at the generic version of this product once you get the license?

 

A: Indeed, the first step that we are looking at is for a generic license for this product in India. Maraviroc, which is Pfizer's product, has a product patent already granted by the Bombay Patent Office.

 

Q: How much time would it take before you file the patent and the results are out?

 

A: We are not filing a patent. We are saying that there are precedents around the world like Brazil and Thailand where compulsory license was granted. We are trying to see whether the same thing can happen even in India.