Nicholas Piramal India Friday launched 'Airitis' (levocetirizine), an antihistamine drug under the company's recently-formed respiratory division, Actis.
Airitis is an improvement over second-generation cetirizine and is indicated in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis, perennial allergic rhinitis.
NPIL President (Sales & Marketing) Sainath Iyer said with the launch the company is making a foray into the anti-allergic drugs market which is worth around Rs 350 crore (Rs 3.50 billion) in the country.
Airitis is expected to generate sales of Rs 10 crore in the first full year of operations, he said.
Apart from the launch of the new generation antihistamine, he said Actis is slated to launch around 12 products in the first year of operations and sales from these new products should together contribute about 20 per cent to the group's turnover.
UNI