Indian Pharma's 'Mother Brands' Drive Revenue Growth

Indian pharmaceutical companies are currently focused on developing flagship products or mother brands. These are designed to incorporate various new combinations and ensure robust revenue growth and therapy leadership.

According to market research firm Pharmarack, flagship brands have registered strong growth CAGR over the last five years, with some even doubling their sales.

Pharmarack's Vice President of Commercial, Sheetal Sapale, explains that mother brands are similar to aggressive players who have put in a lot of effort during the prime years of life. 

These brands continue to silently nurture the brand family to collectively cross newer benchmarks of success. Pharma companies use flagship brands to develop strong therapy connections, moving from low-priced acute therapy to more premium-priced chronic or sub-chronic therapy versions. They also use these brands as a launch pad for combinations with molecules going off-patent.

For instance, Glenmark's Telma, containing Telmisartan, was launched two decades ago in the Chronic segment and has since become a well-known brand for treating hypertension, heart failure, prevention of heart attack, and stroke. Despite introducing multiple line extensions, Telma remains the strongest brand under the umbrella. 

A strong brand identity for the treatment of hypertension has supported the success of the launch of multiple brands with the enhancement of Telmisartan with newer molecules for better management of hypertension. While Telma stays strong in its molecular market, the other brands in the family also enjoy a formidable market share.