Date:17/03/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/03/17/stories/2005031701600200.htm

Back Orchid in marketing tie-up with US co STADA Pharma

Our Bureau

Chennai , March 16

ORCHID Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd today announced that it has entered into an exclusive agreement with STADA Pharmaceuticals Inc (STADA), the US subsidiary of STADA Arzneimittel AG, for the development and supply of six prescription generic drug products for the US market.

Through this agreement, Orchid will develop and exclusively manufacture these non-cephalosporin formulations for exclusive distribution and marketing by STADA in the US market.

"These products cover diverse therapeutic segments, including cardio-vascular, central nervous system, anti-allergic, gastro-intestinal and anti-infective categories," says a press release from the company. The current US brand market size of the products is of the order of $12.5 billion. Orchid would commence supply of these products once they go off-patent progressively from 2007 onwards based on Orchid's regulatory filings and approvals.

Orchid is one of the larger players in cephalosporin antibiotics, but the company intends to get into non-cephalosporins too. According to the release, Orchid is in the process of establishing US FDA-compliant infrastructure to develop and manufacture drugs in these non-cephalosporin segments. The bulk actives facility is being set up in Aurangabad and the formulations facility in Irungattukottai, near Chennai.