Scientists in the United States have made a breakthrough that could revolutionise heart surgery by replacing electronic pacemakers with a biological equivalent.

"Our results indicate that genetically engineered pacemakers could be developed as a possible alternative to implantable electronic devices", the researchers at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, wrote in ‘Nature" magazine.

The heart has natural pacemaker cells that emit an electrical impulse that prompt it to beat. If these die, they can be replaced by surgically-implanted electronic equivalents that do much the same job but have nothing like the adaptability of their biological brethren.  "A biologic pacemaker should also be able to adjust to the body’s changing needs, whereas an electronic pacemaker- at least in its simplest form – does not," he sad. 

[Ref: The Times of India – 13/9/02]

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After software, it’s now the turn of pharma companies to usher in the next export miracle for India. According to an ICRA report, the country’s pharma exports grew at a scorching pace of 27% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the last 10 years, from 1991-2001. And this is just the beginning. The next three years will see Indian companies step on the petal, growing exports from Rs.8,750 crore in 2001 to Rs.17,000 crore in 2005, the report said.

And industry honchos fully concur with the fact that exports are changing the Indian pharma industry’s fate. If one were to take the top 30 pharma companies today, on an average 35-40% of their revenues come from exports, while the figure is expected to touch 50% by 2005.

Says Ranbaxy India regional director SK Kaul: "With Indian pharma companies changing their track to an ‘industry out’ from the traditional ‘marketing in’ strategy, the country’s pharma exports are expected to grow in leaps and bounds in the coming years."

Nicholas Piramal India chairman Ajay Pirmal, however felt that the growth rate of Indian industry could be in the region of 15% in the short to medium term. "There will be a big jump in the overseas sales of domestic pharma companies in the off-patent products. However, not all companies will be able to take advantage of the opportunities opening up in the international markets", Mr Pirmal said.

Companies such as Ranbaxy, Dr. Reddy’s, Cipla, Sun Pharma and Cadila which have already made the switch to ‘industry out’ strategy have already started reaping benefits. Al these companies have clocked impressive growth rates in their exports over the last two-three years.

Adds a senior executive of another domestic pharma major. "India can be the feeder country for formulation products in the coming years, especially in certain segments." Sources said patent-expired drugs and bulk drugs will be the major segments, which could trigger higher growth rates in the coming years.

While exports have been growing at a compounded rate of about 35% in the last 2-3 years, the domestic pharma market has seen only a single digit growth of between 8-9.5% during the same period. One reason for a healthy rise in exports could be because of the higher price realisations in overseas markets compared to the ndian market, which is still very much price regulated.

Among the export destinations of Indian pharma products, obviously US is the biggest, and the ICRA report says that it is set to become bigger.

[Ref: The Economic Times – 25/9/02]

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The $ 4 billion healthcare solutions provider Becton Dickinson and Company is planning to make India a sourcing base for integrated auto disable syringes, in addition to using India as a sourcing base for injection products and IV catheters for Asian markets like China, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Becton Dickinson India Pvt Ltd, BD’s fully owned Indian subsidiary, has drawn up plans to invest $ 3 million to create facilities for manufacturing auto disable syringes from this year at its existing plant. This would make BD’s Indian facility, put up at Bawal near Rewari in Haryana at an initial outlay of Rs.110 crore, the second auto disable syringe manufacturing unit globally after Spain.  "We have already received the manufacturing licence from the Drugs Controller for manufacturing auto disable syringes (SoloShot IX) at our plant. The process validation in another month," BD India MD Ram Sharma said.

Sharma said that plans included putting in one line for auto disable syringe manufacture after which it would be added to as demand grew. "We are doing a market sensing exercise on what kind of products can be manufactured at the lowest cost in India, as it is not the most effective location due to high power costs and low productivity, he said.  Meanwhile, BD has reworked its strategy and has identified four key drivers for growth – biosciences, clinical laboratory solutions, pharmaceuticals and safe immunisation practices.

[Ref: The Times of India – 6/9/02]

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