Torrent signs in-licensing deal to market Chinese cardiac blockbuster

Our Corporate Bureau
11 October 2006

The Chinese company, Tasly, sells Cardiotonic in 13 countries, including the US, where the drug, approved by the US FDA, has sales of $30 milli9on out of its global sales of $360 million. Torrent says the drug is the highest-selling single medicine in China, with sales of over $160 million.

Torrent believes it has a potential blockbuster in its hands and expects to prop its topline with sales of around Rs20 crore within two years of its launch.

Cardiotonic is a novel oral droplet formulation based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases like coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes and hypertension.

It is made from a unique combination of pure extracts of three Chinese medicinal herbs — radix salviae miltiorrhizae, radix notoginseng and bormel cardiotonic — is manufactured with modern pharmaceutical technology and strict quality control procedures.

The innovative droplet pill formulation offers many clinical advantages such as low dosage, rapid and complete absorption, fast onset of action, high potency with few side effects, and convenience.

According to Ruchir Modi, head, strategic marketing, Torrent Pharmaceuticals, "All current C&D (cardio-diabeta) therapies prescribe a wide array of add-ons like vitamin E, folic acid and neurogenic supplements. Cardiotonic will be positioned as a single add-on solution in cardiovascular disorders for all cardiologists, diabetologists and consultant physicians and will do away with the need for multiple add-ons. It will be the most preferred "add on" therapy in CV disorders."