PFIZER ANNOUNCES NEW INDIA MARKETING AND PRODUCTION STRATEGY

The Indian unit of US-based drug major Pfizer has outlined changes to its strategy, which will restructure the company's marketing and manufacturing activities, and also include new product launches. Company sources indicate that Pfizer Ltd is to sell its manufacturing unit at Chandigarh, Hyderabad, and a facility operated by local unit Pharmacia at Ankleshwar. Meanwhile, the company is also likely to restructure its marketing force according to distinct therapeutic areas, such as cardiology, as well as maintaining its two existing divisions, which market established products such as cough formulation Corex.

Pfizer India currently has two subsidiaries, Warner Lambert India and Pharmacia India, and is itself a 40% owned affiliate of the US-based drug major. Nevertheless, the restructuring plans follow a number of changes already announced by the company in October 2003, which envisaged divesting the Chandigarh and Ankleshwar plants, as well as the former Park-Davis facility in Hyderabad. Activities at Pfizer's plant in Thane near Mumbai have also been consolidated, following investment of some INR136mn (US$3.10mn).