Wockhardt sets up marketing subsidiary for aggressive push into US market

Mumbai, April 20, 2004

Wockhardt today unveiled plans to establish its own sales and marketing organisation in the US to drive its business in the world’s largest pharmaceutical market.

“We are seeking an exponential growth in our US business over the next few years,” Wockhardt chairman Mr. Habil Khorakiwala said. “Towards this end, we are beefing up the research and development, manufacturing, regulatory and legal infrastructure in India, and establishing a sales and marketing organisation in the US.”

More than 150 professionals at various levels at Wockhardt in India are supporting the company’s US generics business by working on non-infringing technologies, filing ANDAs (abbreviated new drug applications) and liaising with US regulatory bodies.

Arthur Maher, a marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in the generic pharmaceutical industry, has been appointed as President of Wockhardt USA Inc. to provide a new thrust to the company’s US business.

Wockhardt has also relocated Dr. Sanjay Patel, President, Corporate Scientific Affairs, from India to US. He will guide Wockhardt’s scientific and technical affairs in India, Europe and the US. Mr. Ramesh Sesha, Senior Vice President, Intellectual Property, has also been relocated to the US office.

“With the growing consolidation in the US generics business, buyers now have fewer companies to deal with,” Mr. Maher said. “The market is looking for new players with good credentials. Indian companies are now as much known for their quality as for their cost-effective prices. The timing is just right for Wockhardt for a push into the US.”

Wockhardt currently sells four products in the US - ranitidine, enalapril, bethanecol chloride and captopril. It filed six new ANDAs with US FDA last year and plans to file 15 ANDAs this year.

Wockhardt Limited is a Rs. 1,000-crore, research and technology-based pharmaceutical company and a front-runner in biotechnology. Wockhardt has an active multi-disciplinary R&D programme employing over 350 scientists. It has three successful biotechnology products in the market - Biovac B (Hepatitis B vaccine), Wepox (recombinant erythropoietin) and Wosulin (recombinant insulin).