Alembic, an Indian producer of dietary supplements, has launched Isovon, a soy isoflavone-based oestrogen supplement, in the south of the country, reports Business Line.
The new drug will be a major move into the women's healthcare market for Alembic, according to C.R. Mukherjee, general manager, pharma marketing. The soy isoflavones are imported by Alembic as part of a recent deal with the US group Cognis.
According to Mukherjee, Isovon will join the small band of hormone replacement drugs in the Rs220 million (€5.2m) market.
Alembic is now refocusing its business on three main segments - cardiovascular, anti-diabetic and anti-arthritic. Mukherjee told Business Line that as well as producing its own products, the company planned to make a number of acquisitions in the cardiovascular area, although he declined to name them.
In a move to revive its older brands, the company also recently began franchising nearly a dozen of them including Ciprovin and Sharcoferol through a new division.