The collaboration with Uni-Sankyo gives Sweden-based BioGaia the possibility to sell Reuteri in the rapidly growing Indian market as well as, in the longer term, access to an effective and inexpensive producer who can supply BioGaia with products that can be sold in other markets.
Sales are expected to commence at the end of 2005.
"India is a gigantic market with rapidly increasing buying power and with strong interest in products which improve gastrointestinal health, a good basis for the introduction of Reuteri products," said Peter Rothschild, managing director of the firm.
Uni-Sankyo is a joint venture between Indian and Japanese owners, part of the global Sankyo Company Japan. The company produces its products in its own GMP approved production facilities in Maharashtra and Hyderabad and distributes them to the health care sector in India.