Kainopharm Limited launched with first 7 brands on Keralapiravi day

Without much challenges generally faced by a startup while launching new pharmaceutical products, the official launch of new brands and inauguration of AKCDA’s business enterprise for manufacturing were held in a low-key affair on November 1 in the background of the prevailing COVID-19 protocols.

Kaino Pharm, the manufacturing entity floated by the association of drug traders of Kerala, All Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association (AKCDA), released seven over-the-counter (OTC) products in their own brand names on November 1.

‘Kainetaz’ a hand sanitizer (both liquid and gel), ‘Kainodet’ an antiseptic liquid, ‘Kainopar 650’ paracetamol tablet in 650 mg, ‘Kainace-P’ a drug combination of antipyretic and analgesic properties (tablet), ‘Prazokain’ a brand name given to omeprazole 20 mg (capsule), ‘Kainogel’ an anti-inflammatory diclofenac gel and ‘Kainoderm’ an anti-fungal cream are the products released by Kaino Pharm in a small ceremony organized at the company’s head office at Chalakkudy in Thrissur district.

The manufacturing and marketing company wants to sell all its products on 10 to 30 per cent discounts compared to the prices of other companies, sources informed.

As the Greek term ‘Kaino’ makes the sense ‘do something new’, the traders’ venture also plans for innovative operations and marketing strategies different from those adopted by the conventional manufacturers. Before launching each batch of a product, Kaino Pharm will put them for an additional quality test at the government controlled drug testing lab, says AN Mohan, the CMD of the newly floated firm.

“It has been decided that more thrust has to be given on quality aspects. So, in addition to the in-process and finished product testing by quality control (QC) personnel of the manufacturing unit, Kaino Pharm will also subject the batches of finished products for a second quality test at the Regional Drug Testing Laboratory (RDTL) of the Kerala drugs control department at Kochi on its own expense to reaffirm the authentication of test reports produced every time by the manufacturing company with whom Kaino Pharm has entered into contract for manufacturing,” Mohan clarified.

He claims that the drugs being brought to Kerala from other states for marketing are tested only randomly by the drugs control department officials, but Kaino Pharm products will undergo two quality tests, one by the manufacturer, Southern Union Pharmaceuticals, and another one by Kaino Pharm itself in a government laboratory in Kerala.

On the marketing side, the CMD said the company will follow the three-tier system of marketing involving manufacturers, distributors and retailers. Products will be given to wholesalers who are not even members of the AKCDA. However, in the initial phase of distribution Kaino Pharm focuses on domestic marketing only and that too in three districts, Malappuram, Palakkad and Thrissur. He hopes that the company can sell its products across the length and breadth of the state by the end of January 2021.

Talking about future plans, Mohan said Kaino Pharm will expand its product portfolio by venturing into production of generic versions of all drugs required for lifestyle diseases. The company plans to sell all the drugs of this therapeutic segment on 50% reduction in prices. In the mid of next year Kaino Pharm’s generic versions will find market in all over south India.

The launch of the product was done by the Member of Parliament Benny Behannan. Apart from AN Mohan, director board members of the company like Revi S Menon, Thomas Raju, Jaison George, Abdul Lethif, Dr Telny Thomas and members of AKCDA attended the inauguration ceremony.

- Article from Pharmabiz