This story is from January 18, 2007

Pharma firms bet on healthy bacteria

Rupali Mukherjee / TNN / Jan 18, 2007, 23:10 IST

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A relatively new area, probiotics, which is basically bacteria with a beneficial health effect, is increasingly becoming popular in therapy.

NEW DELHI: Generally consumers associate harmful or bad with the word bacteria. But a relatively new area, probiotics, which is basically bacteria with a beneficial health effect, is increasingly becoming popular in therapy.
With more therapeutic applications emerging everyday, major companies such as Danone are planning a foray in the sector.
Bacterial species lactobacillus sporogenes, lactobacillus acidophillus, lactobacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium; yeast species saccharomyces boulardii and saccharomyces cerevisiae are probiotics used for therapeutic purposes.
Probiotics, which are normally associated with fermented dairy products, are used as dietary supplements in US. Refrigerated, fermented milks containing probiotic bacteria labeled as dietary supplements are currently being marketed in US.

Domestic companies that are marketing probiotic products for therapy in India are Zydus Cadila, Tablets India, Microbax and Unichem India (tie up with Japanese firm Uni-Sankyo).
Tablets (India) has entered into agreements with TOA Pharmaceutical Co, Japan and with European major, Hansen of Denmark, while Cadila Pharmaceuticals markets probiotics (ampicilin and lactobacillus; lactic acid bacillus).
In India, probiotics are being used mainly for gastroenterology. For instance, lactobacillus sporogenes formulations are used for various indications like diarrhea (neonatal, infant, adult), constipation, lactose intolerance, dyspepsia and colitis.

In fact, beyond its well-established usefulness in promoting digestive health, its most impressive research finding is in the area of containing cholesterol levels, industry experts say.
"Probiotic R&D is poised to make great advances during the next five years", says Utkarsh Palnitkar, national health sciences industry leader, Ernst & Young.
"The challenge in probiotics in India is that it falls under preventive care which is yet to be accepted as a line of therapy here," he added.
Probiotics are being used for treating urogenital infections, diarrhea, inflammatory bowel diseases, allergy, hypertension, AIDS and leukemia and for overall growth.

About the Author

Rupali Mukherjee

A business journalist with around two decades of experience tracking key consumer-focussed sectors like consumer durables, retail, consumer goods, aviation, automobiles and advertising, as well as economic ministries of the Union government. Now, writes primarily on pharmaceuticals and healthcare, and on issues of consumer interest. Besides also looks at trends that are shaping consumer behaviour and the broad consumer landscape. \nYou can follow Rupali on Twitter@Rupalijee.

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