Abbott Labs diversifying

Pharmaceuticals producer Abbott Laboratories India Ltd, a subsidiary of Abbott Inc. of the US, is considering diversifying into nutritional products and hospital goods. The nutritional foods will include Glucerma, for diabetes patients and other global brands like Glucerna, Ensure, Ensure Light, Jevity, and paediatric nutrition products.
     Hospital products being considered for launch are enteral feeding pumps, and feeding tubes. Also in the list are neuro-muscular blockers for surgical procedures, and cardiac intensive care equipment.
     The group wants to get half its turnover from these product lines in about seven years.
     Abbott Laboratories will also introduce new pharmaceuticals into the market. These will include medicines for AIDS (Ritonavir) and prostate cancer (Lupron, which is leuprolide acetate).
     Abbott has marketing agreements with Cadila Healthcare and with Glaxo India for clarithromycin, an anti-infective.