16 April 2002, CORPORATE AFFAIRS

Arvind Remedies launches wonder drugs


Chennai-based Arvind Remedies Ltd, one of the fastest growing pharma- ceutical companies in India, embarked upon an intense research programme on the subject, and drew heavily from Ayurveda, which is the first medical system of the world and approved by WHO.

Led by a team of scientists, doctors and Ayurveda practitioners. Arvind Remedies worked upon the herbal formulations as enunciated in Ayurveda and has developed a wonder drug. ' PANKARE ', which is a comprehensive combination of nine sanjeevinis and offers restoration, regeneration and reju- venation of pancreatic Beta cells.

The selected herbs in ' PANKARE ' are scientifically and clinically proven to possess anti-diabetic properties by acting upon the pancreas by restoration and regeneration of pancreatic Beta cell activity. The ingredients have also been found to possess anti-oxidant, anti-hypertensive and hypocholesterolemic properties in addition to the anti-diabetic property.

Among its other innovative initiatives, Arvind Remedies has developed a miraculous product called SOREXIL, that cures bed sores and chronic ulcers, ailments which hitherto had no cure. The company is also in the advanced stage of developing unique products like HARTKARE. which will remove blockages from arteries, a cancer drug. skin grafting drug and a dl'llg for reducing obesity, amlmg others.

Mr Arvind Shah. managing directorr and CEO. Arvind Remedies Ltd. who is a first generation entrepreneur having 23 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry and trade, says: "In 1979. I started my career as a pharmaceutical distributor and enjoyed the distributorship of several MNCs like Glaxo, Sandoz, German Remedies, Cadila, Raptakos, Roussel and Ranbaxy, to name a few. I gained an insight and thorough knowledge in all aspects or the industry and after 10 years, I started my own company, Arvind Remedies Ltd in 1988, We focussed on all segments of marketing, particularly on selling medicines in the global market."

Arvind Remedies got listed on major stock exchanges in 1996 and today is a profit-making and dividend-paying company with a turnover of Rs 100 crore, The company currently manufactures quality pharmaceutical formula- tions and is marketing its products through ethical, international, institutional, contract manufacturing, branded generics and generics and over the counter, The company's clients include defence set-ups, EST, CGHS, state governments, PSUs, Post & Telegraph, Railways, World bank projects, TTK Pharma and BAL Pharma.

"These are difficukt times for the pharma industry and we have to plan or be prepared to perish. Ours is an industry which requires huge investments and a major portion or our revenues has to be ploughed back to R&D activities. Keeping this in mind, Arvind Remedies concentrated on the development of unique Ayurvedie research products so as to be a global player with regular lunches of traditional drugs. We have qualifled scientists, sophisticated lab with the availability of GMP manufacturing facility, process improvement and drug delivery systems. Our global presence is increasing and we have a wide product range for the entire medical fraternity," Mr Shah says.

For the future, the company has adopted a two-pronged strategy to boost its bottomline. In the first phase, it plans to hit the over the counter segment in a big way for its wonder products like PANKARE and Sorexil. It is also exporting its products in countries such as Malaysia, Sri Lanka. Vietnam, Zambia, Kenya and Nigeria, while the formalities are almost complete in Ukraine. In the second phase, Arvind Remedies seeks to commission its second state-of-the-art plant by 2003, after which it plans to secure the United States FDA, MCA of UK and TGA of Australia approvals. These would come as important milestones for expanding its global business. The new plant would facilities for producing soft gelatine products and injectibles. The company is also eyeing the huge food supplement market in the western countries and is working on devng products.