BSV portfolio can touch ₹5,000 cr in 3-4 yrs'

In one of the biggest pharmaceutical (pharma) deals in recent years, Delhi-based Mankind Pharma acquired Mumbai-headquartered specialty pharma company Bharat Serums and Vaccines (BSV) for ₹13,630 crore on Friday. RAJEEV JUNEJA, managing director (MD) and vice-chairman of Mankind Pharma, spoke to Sohini Das over the phone about the potential of the BSV portfolio to reach a ₹5,000 crore turnover in three to four years with Mankind's marketing prowess. Edited excerpts:

- Sohini Das

Will this deal lead to Mankind Pharma focusing on exports too?

We have been very clear from the beginning that we don't want to get into exports with generic or me-too products. We always wanted products with a high level of entry barriers and complexity.

With the BSV deal, we now have branded products in some cases, there is no competition, and in others, there is limited competition (one or two players). For example, consider the AntiD product that BSV hasnearly 5-7 per cent of Indian mothers are Rh negative (blood group), which amounts to 8-10 million mothers.

Lack of preventive measures can cause brain damage or jaundice in & newborns. The mother needs to take a dose in the third trimester and within 72 hours after delivery with an Rh-positive child. Only 3040 per cent of expecting mothers adhere to this due to lack of awareness. BSV has the world's first and only recombinant for AntiRhoD, which has a valid patent until 2028. It also has vertically integrated in-house cell lines. If anyone tries to make any product of BSV, it would take five to 10 years at least. But we also feel there is huge potential for these products in the Indian market itself. Even after acquiring BSV, 87 per cent of the revenues of the entity will come from India. Wherever we have strong opportunities in the rest of the world, we will pursue them. Our ambition is to become a great company in India.

How do you wish to grow the synergies between BSV and Mankind?

Probably the fastest-growing therapy segment is infertility treatment. People are marrying late, then deciding to have a baby later on in their lives, focusing on careers, stress-myriad factors are affecting fertility.