Press Release
New Delhi / Gurgaon
February 20, 2009
Indian Drug & Pharmaceuticals Limited launches new Cephalosporin block
The foundation stone laid by Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Hon’able Cabinet Minister for Steel, Chemicals & Fertilizers
IDPL also launches three new OTC Drugs & one Prescription Drug Signs two MOU’s with NIPER, Mohali; Unveils new Logo
Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Hon’ble Minister for Steel, Chemicals and Fertilisers, today laid the foundation stone of IDPL’s Cephalosporin Block at Indian Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Limited (IDPL) Gurgaon Plant. The new facility will be a state of the art, schedule M compliant / WHO-GMP formulation block for the production of Cephalosporin formulations. It will be spread over five acres and will involve a capital expenditure of Rs.13 crores in the first phase. The new plant will also generate employment for 150 people.
The Cephalosporin plant would be people, product & environment friendly using modern technology, solar energy and rain water harvesting etc. wherever possible. In the first phase, the new Cephalosporin block will have the facilities for the manufacture of Cephalosporin tablets and in the second phase injectibles and other dosage formulations will be covered.
IDPL also signed two MOU’s with National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali an Institute of national importance under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. The first MOU is for the manufacture of Zinc Dispersible tablets under which the technology is being transferred free of cost by NIPER to IDPL. This will enable IDPL to address the incidence of child mortality due to Diarrhoae , as Zinc Sulphate has been prescribed as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of acute and persistent non—dysentery diarrhoea in children by WHO in 2005.
The second MOU is for the production of Macrolides namely Roxithromycin, Azithromycin and Clarithromycin at Muzaffarpur Plant and for restarting production of tablets at Hyderabad Plant. NIPER has also been engaged as Project Management Consultant for Re-starting of Muzaffarpur & Hyderabad Plants and to make them compliant to Revised Schedule-M.
A new logo for IDPL was also unveiled. Symbolic of health and happiness, the new logo reflects the fresh attitude that’s driving the company. The logo has a graphic representation of a human being seen in colours of green and blue that are mostly used in medical fraternity. The change of logo reflects the change the company is undergoing with unprecedented growth in production and new initiatives like launching of new OTC products and collaborations/ joint ventures for full utilization of the available infrastructure.
The other dignitaries present on the occasion were Shri B.K Handique, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Mines, Shri Rao Inderjit Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Defence Production, Shri Ashok Kumar, Secretary (Pharma), Smt. Satwant Reddy, Chairperson, Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI), etc.
IDPL has witnessed exceptional growth in the last few years with the turnover jumping from Rs. 7.2 crore in 2005-06 to the Rs.62.1 crore in 2007-08. The company is expected to close this year with a turnover of Rs. 125 crore.
Dr. Jayashree Gupta, CMD, IDPL addressed the gathering and talked about the role that IDPL is expected to play to further change the medical scenario in India. Dr. Jayashree Gupta said, “IDPL has been in the forefront whenever the nation has been confronted with health emergencies and has acted swiftly & responsibly to produce and supply required medicines in the shortest timeframe”. She added that IDPL has turned around in the last three years and is hopeful that the company will continue with its impressive growth in times to come backed by new initiatives like the launch of OTC drugs, Jan Aushadhi Stores etc.
IDPL also launched three OTC and one Prescription Drug today. The new products that IDPL will now be focusing on are Oral Drugs like “Mismis”, an emergency contraceptive pill; “Proxy”, a low-calorie aspartame based sweetener; “Idifiz”, a digestive enzyme preparation and Prescription Drug “Idicon”.
Mismis is an emergency contraceptive pill. It provides a safe, effective and easy way to prevent an unintended pregnancy after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. However, it is not effective if pregnancy has already occurred. Hence, mismis should be taken as soon as possible. Mismis is recommended only as a backup contraceptive and is not a substitute for regular birth control methods.
Proxy being introduced in Sachets is a sugar substitute containing aspartame, which is a low calorie sweetener that is derived from protein component that are found in all protein containing natural foods. Aspartame is about 200 times sweeter than sugar, so very small amounts are required for the desired sweetness. Proxy sweetens beverages like tea, coffee, milk and milk products, fruit juice and cold drinks without the calories of sugar. It is the preferred low calorie sweetener for the calorie conscious, those wanting to lose weight and in diabetics.
Idifiz is a digestive enzyme preparation for the relief of dyspepsia, heart burn, acid indigestion, belching etc. It contains the digestive enzyme fungal diastase and papain, which helps in the digestion of food. It also contains Simethicone, which is an antifoaming agent used for relieving flatulence and gaseous distension.
Idicon (Fluconazole) capsule is an oral antifungal agent with a broad range of antifungal activity. It is well absorbed after oral administration with fungicidal concentrations being achieved in target tissues. It also penetrates brain. Because of these properties it is used for the treatment of various fungal infections including mucosal and system candidiasis, cryptococcois, dermatophyte infections (tinea pedis, corporis, cruris etc.).It is also used for prophylaxis of fungal infections in immuno compromised patients. It is generally well tolerated.
About IDPL:
IDPL was incorporated in 1961 with main objectives of creating self-sufficiency in respect of essential life saving medicines, to free the country from dependence on imports and to provide medicines to the millions at affordable prices and not to make millions from the medicines. IDPL was basically conceived and established as a part of Healthcare Infrastructure and has played a pioneering role in the growth of Indian Drug Industry base.
IDPL has three formulation plants at Rishikesh, Gurgaon & Hyderabad and two subsidiary units at Chennai & Muzaffarpur as well as one joint sector unit at Bhubhaneshwar. It has played a major role in the strategic National Health Programmes like Family Welfare Programme & Population Control (Mala-D & Mala-N) anti-malarials (Chloroquine) and prevention of dehydration (ORS) by providing quality medicines. During the country’s calamity of outbreak of Plague in 1994, IDPL was the only company which played the sheet anchor role in supplying Tetracycline for the entire Nation.
For more information, please contact:
Sunil Kumar Singh / Vinita Dhawan
Finesse PR
Telephone: +91 11 43056200(30 Lines) Fax: + 91 11 43056202
[email protected]/ [email protected]
