Morepen Labs ties up with Vesale Pharma of Belgium

New Delhi: Morepen Laboratories Ltd. entered into a tie-up with Vesale Pharma International of Belgium to strengthen its position in the Rs. 1000 crore probiotic market in India. An agreement to this effect between the two pharma biggies was officially signed in the presence of the King and the Queen of Belgium who is currently on their State visit to India.

The tie-up will expand Morepen's formulations portfolio in the Indian market, especially in the gastroenterology segment. Initially, it is an exclusive distribution and marketing tie up. However, the foreign counterpart may invest in future for setting up of a worldwide manufacturing and R&D facility in India with Morepen for its entire range of products.

While Bacilac Infantis is used in the treatment of acute infectious diarrhoea, antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, prevention of nosocomial diarrhoea and treatment of colic in kids, Bacilac ORS is indicated particularly for prevention of dehydration in cases of diarrhoea and has the added probiotic benefits.

Bacilac Forte is used to treat irritable colon, prevention of traveler's diarrhoea and prevention of diarrhoea during antibiotic therapy in addition to maintaining and restoration of the intestinal flora.

Cibalax treats chronical and occasional constipation while stimulating regular stools in a natural way. It also maintains good intestinal transit and contains fiber and the patented probiotic formula.

All the products treat the problems and add good bacteria to the intestine with the science that the living bacteria will not get destroyed in the stomach itself. This makes a doctor more confident of the immediate results and better recovery.

The four products together are likely to contribute Rs. 100 crore to Morepen Lab's top line in the next five years. Probiotics are about a 1000 Cr ethical prescription market in the country growing at 15 percent annually. Morepen will not only sell these products in the Indian market but will also make them for other markets across the globe for Vesale in the future.

"India makes a great opportunity for Vesale. This agreement we signed with Morepen Laboratories today is perfectly in line with the global strategy and international development of Vesale Pharma. The need for our patented products in the probiotic segment is huge," said Jehan Lienart, Executive Chairman, and CEO, Vesale Pharma.

"Morepen is a great partner for us as they are strong in gastro segment and their understanding of probiotics and innovation is well appreciated. Vesale brings in patented, easy to use, effective probiotics for people of ages from infants to geriatrics. Moreover, with our unique technology Intelicaps, we make sure that live bacteria reach the intestine and do not get destroyed in the stomach. We plan to do wonderful things together with Morepen for India," he added.

Probiotics are live bacteria, intended to colonize in the human intestine in large numbers. Their availability is influenced by factors such as pH, humidity, heat, temperature fluctuations and exposure to oxygen. To be efficacious, it is essential that the bacteria arrive alive at their target organ, that is, the intestine, surviving the attack of gastric acids and bile salts in the alimentary canal.

Most of the probiotic formulations, which are currently sold in the market, are not very effective as they do not survive in the gastric atmosphere as the majority of the bacteria is killed there itself. This is where the need for Vesale Pharma's better and efficacious probiotics arises which can improve the lives of infants, children, adults, and geriatrics with the help of its patented Intelicaps technology.