Share |

Budget 2006-07: Pharma


The Indian pharmaceutical industry went through a tough phase in 2005, hounded by VAT related concerns and brutal price erosion in the global generics market. The year also saw the introduction of the product patent law in the country from January 01, 2005. This law is expected to gradually slow down product launches in the country but at the same time has propelled Indian companies to step up R&D activities in a bid to be recognised as global discovery-led companies. With changing dynamics both in the domestic and the global markets, Indian pharma companies are gearing up for the challenge. Read more

 Budget Measures


  • Reduction of customs duty on 10 anti-AIDS and 14 anti-cancer drugs to 5%. Reduction of duty on certain life saving drugs, kits and equipment from 15% to 5%. These drugs will also be exempt from excise duty and countervailing duty (CVD).
  • Expenses on free samples of medicines and medical equipment distributed to doctors exempt from fringe benefit tax.
  • Increased allocation for health and family welfare by 22%.

     Budget Impact


  • The fringe benefit tax exemption of free samples is a positive step for the Indian pharma industry and is also in line with the expectations of the pharma companies.

  • The customs duty reduction and excise duty exemption on the 10 anti-AIDS and 14 anti-cancer drugs and certain life saving drugs is also likely to make these drugs more affordable to patients.

     Sector Outlook


  • Our outlook on the pharma industry is positive from a long-term perspective. One of the reasons for the same is the considerable generics opportunity that is likely to emerge in the next couple of years. The second is the positive impact of the product patent regime in the sense that India is now increasingly becoming a hub for outsourcing of clinical trials and manufacturing by global innovator companies. However, increased competition and the consequent price erosion in the generics space might dampen growth for companies.


     Industry Wish List


    Mr. N.Y. Sanglikar, Sr.GM (Investor Relations) - GSK Pharma Limited

  • Rationalisation of excise duty from the current 16% to 8% in a bid to make medicines more affordable.

  • Abolishment of the fringe benefit tax so that conducting business can be less complicated and less cumbersome.

  • Government should increase allocation to the healthcare sector so that those below the poverty line can also benefit from the same.


    Ms. Mira Desai, Investor Relations - Sun Pharmaceuticals

  • Weighted deduction benefit to be allowed for costs incurred in conducting clinical trials and patent filings.


     Budget over the years


    Budget 2003-04 Budget 2004-05 Budget 2005-06

    Anti AIDS drugs to be fully exempt from excise duty.

    Specific drugs used for treatment of Cancer and other critical diseases would be exempt from custom duty. Incentives earlier given on such drugs, which are now manufactured indigenously, have been charged 5% customs duty.

    Customs duty on Glucometers used for diabetes reduced from 25% to 10%.

    All drugs and materials used in clinical trails to enjoy customs and excise duty exemption.

    The list of life saving drugs that enjoys tax exemptions or concessional tax rates of 5% to be expanded.

    Customs duty on Glucometers and Glucomteric strips reduced to 5% from existing 10%.

    The government has proposed a health insurance scheme. As per this insurance plan, an individual will get a cover of Rs 30,000 in case of hospitalization for a premium of just Rs 365 a year. The government aims to bring 5m families who are below the poverty under the coverage of this scheme.

    Concessions under the section 10 (23G) to be granted to institutions lending to hospital with more than 100 beds. Depreciation rate on life saving medical instruments increased from 25% to 40%

    Corpus for the R&D fund to be increased in phases. Stable policy environment and incentives to be provided to help the two industries (biotech and pharma) become world leaders.

    Units in knowledge-based industries such as pharma and biotech to be provided equity support through the SME Growth Fund.

    The exemption date for weighted deduction of 150% of in-house R&D facilities of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies has been extended by 2 years to March 31, 2007.

    Also, the exemption for 100% deduction of profits of companies carrying on scientific R&D, which is approved by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has also been extended by 2 years to March 31, 2007

    Customs duty for 9 specified pharma and biotechnology machinery cut to 5%.

    Corporate tax pruned to 30% from 35%.

    [Read more on Budget 2003-04] [Read more on Budget 2004-05] [Read more on Budget 2005-06]

    Key Positives
  • Strong generic fundamentals - Despite the pricing pressure witnessed in the generic markets of US and Europe, the fundamental factors driving the generics industry remain strong. In the US and Europe, the aged population as a percentage of total population is on the rise and is expected to rise further by 2025 resulting in a strain in their healthcare budgets. To give a perspective, the ageing population of Europe (as a percentage of regional population) is expected to rise from the current 20% to around 26% by 2025. Similarly that of the US is expected to rise from the current 16% to around 25% by 2025 (Source: Ranbaxy presentation). At the same time, the governments in these regions are under pressure to reduce healthcare costs, which can be achieved through relatively cheaper generics.

  • Cost competitiveness - A new concept that is gaining momentum in the pharma industry is contract research apart from contract manufacturing. Given the low cost high quality advantages, Indian companies are poised to benefit from contract research business on behalf of multinationals. As for contract manufacturing is concerned, large global pharmaceutical companies are finding it profitable to outsource production. To cash in on these opportunities, many large production houses in the country are becoming US FDA compliant. To put things in perspective, excluding US, India currently has the highest number of US FDA approved plants at 61.

  • Structural changes - The penetration of health insurance is abysmally low in the country. The entry of private players would not only bring in quantum leap in the health insurance business but also increase capital inflows into this sector. It would also bring in the concept of managed healthcare in the country. This would finally lead to overall increase in per-capita usage of drugs.

  • New growth opportunities - Despite the price war, the domestic pharma industry continues to show decent growth rates, led by the chronic therapeutic (lifestyle) segment like anti-diabetic, cardiovascular and central nervous system. Higher awareness, exposure to newer therapies and aggressive introduction of new drugs at a reasonable price has been the key driver of growth in the chronic/lifestyle segment. This trend is likely to continue going forward.

  • Increasing R&D focus - One of the positive developments has been the shift towards product patent regime from 2005 onwards. This will lead to a structural change in the industry, which will encourage innovation and greater investment in R&D. While there would not be any impact in the short term, in longer term this will lead to strengthening and consolidation of the industry. Companies have been increasingly stepping up their R&D expenditure in a bid to be recognised as research and discovery oriented companies in the global arena from a long-term perspective.

      
    Key Negatives
  • Lower end of value chain - Indian companies are cost competitive in manufacturing bulk drugs, which has made them an outsourcing destination for the global pharma majors. But this is the lower end of the pharma value chain and is basically a commodity making skill due to low entry barriers. Also, the Indian industry still lacks facilities and resources to develop a molecule, conduct clinical trials and then launch the product. Indian companies will thus have to depend on their international peers to undertake the more expensive clinical trials and product launches.

  • Weakness in domestic markets - Fierce price competition has become the order of the day for the domestic pharma industry, which has restricted the ability of the domestic pharma market to grow in value terms. Due to its highly fragmented structure, the pricing power of players has been pruned. The Indian markets have traditionally been and continue to remain price sensitive and premium pricing of products is extremely difficult to maintain.

  • Challenging generics environment - Competition in the US and European generics market has intensified in the past year on the back of minimal product launches leading to brutal price erosion. While the product flow is set to increase in the coming couple of years, pricing pressure is expected to continue. Generic players also have to contend with a host of other challenges such as increased difficulty in securing Para IV wins, presence of authorised generics and making the right acquisition to acquire scale and effectively compete in the market.

  • Stumbling blocks - Indian companies have been trying to enter US markets through Para IV filings. However, in recent times the industry has seen certain setbacks. This has reduced the companies' ability to generate strong cash flows to invest in ambitious R&D activities. This might lead to a delay in the R&D plans of domestic pharma majors.

  • Impact of the patent regime - The new patent regime brings in lot of promises for the industry in India, but it might not be good for the smaller players in the industry, as they will not be able to survive in the environment owing to scalability issues leading to consolidation of the industry. Also, the introduction of this law will gradually lead to a slowdown of new generic product launches from domestic pharma majors in the Indian markets. At the same time, the law provides an attractive opportunity to MNC pharma companies to step up product launches from their parent's product stable thereby providing competition to their domestic peers.

  • Government control - This attribute continues to stay, despite the various moves to liberalise the industry. Drug Pricing Control Organisation (DPCO) continues to exist.


    Budget Impact: Pharmaceuticals Sector Analysis for 2005-06 | Pharmaceuticals Sector Analysis for 2007-08
    Latest: Performance Of Pharmaceuticals Stocks | Pharmaceuticals Sector Report

     Feedback


    Name
    E-mail
    Your comments

     

    Sector Performance
    COMPANY PRICE (Rs)
    AARTI DRUGS 459.7
    (-0.2%)
    AASHKA HOSPITALS 110.0
    (1.7%)
    AATMAJ HEALTHCARE 47.0
    (-4.2%)
    ABBOTT INDIA 27,193.8
    (0.1%)
    ACCENT MICROCELL LTD. 246.8
    (-0.1%)
    ACHYUT HEALTHCARE 64.8
    (2.8%)
    ADESHWAR MEDITEX 23.6
    (0.0%)
    ADLINE CHEM LAB 25.0
    (-2.0%)
    ADVANCED ENZYME TECHNOLOGIES 378.1
    (-0.5%)
    AJANTA PHARMA 2,939.7
    (1.8%)
    AKUMS DRUGS & PHARMACEUTICALS LTD. 581.0
    (5.0%)
    ALBERT DAVID 1,295.6
    (1.9%)
    ALEMBIC 125.2
    (0.6%)
    ALEMBIC PHARMA 1,042.6
    (1.8%)
    ALKEM LABORATORIES 5,525.3
    (0.3%)
    ALPA LAB 115.0
    (1.4%)
    AMBALAL SARABHAI 55.9
    (0.2%)
    AMI ORGANICS 2,024.3
    (-2.1%)
    ANG LIFESCIENCES INDIA 44.4
    (-1.3%)
    ANUH PHARMA 196.9
    (4.3%)
    ARTEMIS MEDICARE SERVICES 289.0
    (3.3%)
    ASHRAM ONLINE 5.8
    (5.2%)
    ASPIRA PATHLAB & DIAGNOSTICS 67.7
    (-3.2%)
    ASTER DM HEALTHCARE 433.5
    (0.7%)
    ASTRAZENECA PHARMA 6,497.5
    (1.6%)
    AUROBINDO PHARMA 1,247.9
    (1.0%)
    BAFNA PHARMA 80.0
    (0.0%)
    BAJAJ HEALTHCARE 392.2
    (2.7%)
    BAL PHARMA 131.1
    (4.3%)
    BALAXI PHARMA 78.9
    (1.0%)
    BALAXI PHARMA 78.9
    (1.0%)
    BETA DRUGS 2,015.0
    (0.6%)
    BHARAT PARENTERALS 1,490.5
    (-0.6%)
    BIOCON 327.1
    (0.5%)
    BIOFIL CHEMICALS 59.8
    (-1.3%)
    BLISS GVS PHARMA 120.8
    (-0.7%)
    BRAWN BIOTECH 21.4
    (1.0%)
    BROOKS LAB 141.8
    (2.0%)
    CAPLIN POINT 1,951.3
    (-1.7%)
    CHANDRA BHAGAT PHARMA 69.0
    (-3.5%)
    CHEMO PHARMA 82.5
    (0.6%)
    CHOKSI LAB. 60.6
    (-0.6%)
    CIAN HEALTHCARE 4.9
    (-2.0%)
    CIPLA 1,471.4
    (0.4%)
    CLARIS LIFESCIENCES 396.6
    (0.0%)
    CONCORD BIOTECH 1,898.5
    (-0.6%)
    CONCORD DRUGS 36.5
    (1.2%)
    DECCAN HEALTH CARE 27.2
    (0.2%)
    DECIPHER LABS 15.1
    (0.1%)
    DENIS CHEM LAB 159.2
    (0.7%)
    DESH RAKSHAK 14.3
    (5.0%)
    DHANVANTRI JEEV 20.5
    (-8.4%)
    DIPNA PHARMACHEM 6.8
    (-2.9%)
    DISHMAN CARBOGEN AMCIS 220.6
    (-3.0%)
    DIVIS LABORATORIES 5,896.2
    (2.3%)
    DR HABEEBULLAH LIFE SCIENCES 18.9
    (1.9%)
    DR LALCHANDANI LABS 18.7
    (9.2%)
    DR REDDY NCD1 5.4
    (0.4%)
    DR. LAL PATHLABS 3,040.9
    (2.5%)
    DR. REDDYS LAB 1,214.0
    (1.7%)
    EMCURE PHARMACEUTICALS LTD. 1,306.1
    (-0.3%)
    ERIS LIFESCIENCES 1,364.4
    (0.6%)
    EVEREST ORGANICS 121.1
    (2.9%)
    FABINO LIFE 28.0
    (1.8%)
    FDC 487.9
    (-0.0%)
    FERMENTA BIOTECH 331.2
    (4.4%)
    FERVENT SYNERGIES 16.2
    (0.6%)
    FORTIS MALAR 53.5
    (0.8%)
    FREDUN PHARMA 693.5
    (0.1%)
    GANGA PHARMACEUTICALS 15.0
    (-4.6%)
    GENNEX LAB. 19.2
    (1.2%)
    GLAND PHARMA 1,778.5
    (0.3%)
    GLENMARK LIFE SCIENCES 1,084.0
    (0.2%)
    GLENMARK PHARMA 1,492.4
    (0.6%)
    GRANULES INDIA 551.6
    (4.2%)
    GSK PHARMA 2,436.3
    (1.0%)
    GUFIC BIOSCIENCE 420.9
    (2.8%)
    GUJ.TERC LAB 82.2
    (2.0%)
    HEALTHCARE GLOBAL ENTER. 468.8
    (0.3%)
    HEMANT SURGICAL INDUSTRIES 123.9
    (-2.7%)
    HESTER BIOSCIENCES 2,437.0
    (0.2%)
    HIKAL. 392.2
    (-2.1%)
    IND SWIFT LA 106.0
    (1.9%)
    IND. SWIFT 21.1
    (2.8%)
    INDEGENE LTD. 635.4
    (-2.6%)
    INDOCO REMEDIES 304.3
    (-1.0%)
    INDRAPRASTHA MEDICAL 415.3
    (0.6%)
    INNOVA CAPTAB LTD. 933.8
    (-3.6%)
    IOL CHEMICALS & PHARM. 351.1
    (0.7%)
    IPCA LABS 1,573.1
    (0.4%)
    ISTREET NETWORK 3.2
    (-0.6%)
    J.B.CHEMICALS 1,665.9
    (-0.8%)
    JAGSON PHAR 578.1
    (-2.3%)
    JEENA SIKHO 1,918.3
    (-2.1%)
    JFL LIFE SCIENCES LTD. 29.5
    (-5.0%)
    JUBILANT INDUSTRIES 1,639.1
    (-4.1%)
    JUBILANT PHARMOVA 1,131.1
    (-1.2%)
    KABRA DRUGS 9.6
    (0.0%)
    KILITCH DRUGS 311.1
    (-1.3%)
    KIMIA BIOSCIENCES 47.0
    (-0.2%)
    KIMS 567.0
    (1.7%)
    KOPRAN. 207.3
    (-7.4%)
    KOVAI MEDICAL 5,335.9
    (-0.9%)
    KREBS BIOCHEMICALS 83.2
    (1.0%)
    KRSNAA DIAGNOSTICS 933.2
    (0.7%)
    KWALITY PHARMA 870.8
    (-4.0%)
    LACTOSE INDIA 168.1
    (-0.9%)
    LASA SUPERGENERICS 24.8
    (-1.9%)
    LAURUS LABS 489.2
    (1.1%)
    LINCOLN PHAR 622.7
    (1.3%)
    LINK PHARMA 40.7
    (0.8%)
    LOOKS HEALTH SERVICES 5.2
    (-3.5%)
    LUPIN 2,037.1
    (0.1%)
    LYKA LABS 143.1
    (1.1%)
    MANGALAM DRUGS 106.3
    (0.1%)
    MANKIND PHARMA 2,568.0
    (-1.2%)
    MARKSANS PHARMA. 305.9
    (-1.1%)
    MAX HEALTHCARE INSTITUTE 997.1
    (-0.4%)
    MEDI CAPS 50.5
    (-0.6%)
    MEDICAMEN BI 449.1
    (-3.0%)
    MEDICAMEN ORGANICS LTD. 53.8
    (1.6%)
    MEDICO REMEDIES 45.6
    (-10.0%)
    MERCURY LAB. 926.8
    (0.4%)
    METROPOLIS HEALTHCARE 2,017.0
    (-0.4%)
    MOREPEN LABS 75.9
    (2.2%)
    MURAE ORGANISOR 1.5
    (4.2%)
    NATCO PHARMA 1,366.2
    (0.8%)
    NECTAR LIFESCIENCE 34.9
    (-2.0%)
    NEULAND LABS 14,864.3
    (-1.1%)
    NEWTIME INFRASTRUCTURE 9.2
    (-1.9%)
    NIDAN LABORATORIES 29.9
    (3.1%)
    NORRIS MEDICINES 22.7
    (-5.0%)
    NOVARTIS 1,022.9
    (-1.2%)
    NURECA 278.5
    (1.2%)
    ORCHID PHARMA 1,444.0
    (1.7%)
    ORTIN LABS 19.8
    (7.4%)
    PANACEA BIOTECH 395.6
    (5.0%)
    PANCHSHEEL ORG 219.0
    (2.7%)
    PARMAX PHARMA 49.0
    (3.1%)
    PARNAX LAB 145.3
    (-2.9%)
    PATIDAR BUILDCON 9.3
    (4.3%)
    PFIZER 5,184.6
    (0.0%)
    PHAARMASIA 48.9
    (5.0%)
    PIRAMAL ENTERPRISES 1,060.8
    (1.2%)
    PIRAMAL PHARMA 250.8
    (-0.5%)
    PREVEST DENPRO 544.7
    (-1.3%)
    PROCTER & GAMBLE HEALTH 5,135.0
    (0.3%)
    QUEST LABORATORIES LTD. 117.4
    (0.7%)
    RAYMED LABS 2.8
    (0.0%)
    RPG LIFE SCIENCES 2,043.4
    (-2.3%)
    RUBRA MEDICA 13.5
    (-2.0%)
    S.S.ORGANICS 74.2
    (-4.7%)
    SANOFI INDIA 6,149.0
    (-0.3%)
    SAROJA PHARMA INDUSTRIES INDIA LTD. 58.0
    (9.3%)
    SCANDENT IMAGING 7.0
    (1.0%)
    SEQUENT SCIENTIFIC 195.2
    (3.4%)
    SHALBY 213.5
    (0.1%)
    SHAMROCK IND 11.2
    (2.0%)
    SHELTER PHARMA 52.6
    (-1.7%)
    SHILPA MEDICARE 879.9
    (1.9%)
    SHREE GANESH REMEDIES 698.9
    (-0.4%)
    SHUKRA PHARMA 60.4
    (-3.7%)
    SHYAMA INFOSYS 6.8
    (-0.6%)
    SIGACHI INDUSTRIES 49.7
    (-0.8%)
    SMRUTHI ORGANICS 118.0
    (-3.0%)
    SMS LIFESCIENCES INDIA 1,029.5
    (-1.5%)
    SMS PHARMA 251.0
    (-1.6%)
    SOLARA ACTIVE PHARMA SCIENCES 761.9
    (2.2%)
    SONI MEDICARE 40.6
    (-5.0%)
    SOTAC PHARMACEUTICALS LTD. 119.2
    (-4.9%)
    SOURCE NATURAL FOODS 231.5
    (-1.0%)
    STRIDES PHARMA SCIENCE 1,392.5
    (1.8%)
    SUN PHARMA 1,775.2
    (1.6%)
    SUNIL HEALTHCARE 75.0
    (2.2%)
    SUPRIYA LIFESCIENCE 689.2
    (6.0%)
    SUVEN LIFE SCIENCES 120.8
    (0.2%)
    SUVEN PHARMACEUTICALS 1,279.5
    (-0.3%)
    SWAGRUHA INFRA 3.6
    (0.6%)
    SYNCOM FORMULATIONS 20.1
    (-0.5%)
    SYNGENE INTERNATIONAL 850.3
    (0.9%)
    TARSONS PRODUCTS 395.5
    (-0.2%)
    TEJNAKSH HEALTHCARE 23.8
    (4.0%)
    THEMIS MEDICARE 286.4
    (0.1%)
    THYROCARE TECHNOLOGIES 964.7
    (-1.9%)
    TOHEAL PHARMA 150.0
    (-0.7%)
    TORRENT PHARMA 3,094.8
    (-0.4%)
    TRIDENT LIFELINE 291.0
    (-4.5%)
    TRIMURTHI DRUGS 23.0
    (0.0%)
    TTK HEALTHCARE 1,475.6
    (3.1%)
    UNICHEM LAB 881.6
    (0.3%)
    VADIVARHE SPECIALITY CHEMICALS 49.4
    (1.0%)
    VAIDYA AYURVEDIC LABS 145.0
    (3.6%)
    VALIANT LABORATORIES LTD. 110.1
    (0.8%)
    VANTA BIOSCIENCE 41.1
    (5.0%)
    VASA DENTICITY 619.4
    (-0.0%)
    VASUNDHARA RASAYANS 284.2
    (1.3%)
    VENUS REMEDIES 294.5
    (0.1%)
    VIJAYA DIAGNOSTIC 1,068.3
    (5.9%)
    VILIN BIO MED 22.5
    (12.2%)
    VINEET LABORATORIES 50.4
    (1.7%)
    VIVANZA BIOSCIENCES 3.9
    (-4.9%)
    VIVIMED LABS 4.9
    (-3.9%)
    WALPAR NUTRITIONS LTD. 44.0
    (-3.1%)
    WANBURY 222.0
    (0.9%)
    WELCURE DRUG 8.1
    (0.0%)
    WINDLAS BIOTECH 958.0
    (-2.7%)
    WOCKHARDT 1,187.0
    (4.4%)
    WYETH 1,334.6
    (-2.3%)
    YATHARTH HOSPITAL 604.4
    (-0.2%)
    ZENITH DRUGS LTD. 98.7
    (4.9%)
    ZENLABS ETHICA 40.3
    (-1.1%)
    ZIM LABORATORIES 104.3
    (-0.1%)
    ZOTA HEALTH CARE 554.8
    (-0.1%)
    ZYDUS LIFESCIENCES 946.9
    (0.2%)

    © Equitymaster Agora Research Private Limited.
    www.personalfn.com | www.equitymaster.com
    Why Personalfn? | Why Equitymaster? | Terms of Use | Contact Us | About Us