Elder Pharmaceuticals to Increase Sales Force in India

With major thrust on the rural markets and plans to launch more products (owned and in-licensed) in FY 2011 across India, Elder Pharmaceuticals plans to increase its sales and marketing force headcount by about 1,000.

Elder presently employs about 3,300 people in India of which approximately 2,700 are in marketing and sales.

Alok Saxena, director, says, “There has been a revival in demand across pharmaceutical segments but the real growth story lies in the rural and semi-urban markets which we expect to grow at about 15 percent annually from the current level.” In addition to doctors, the company plans to reach out to physicians, specialists, chemists (especially in the rural areas), hospitals, nursing homes, and private healthcare institutions. Adds Saxena, “We hope to complete the expansion of our manpower by June 2010.

Plans to territorially expand our existing products especially in rural areas, our recent launches like Phytomega, Hibor, Bon Viva, Somazina and addition to our manufacturing capacities are reasons for us to strengthen our sales and marketing network across India.”