Gamma plans to launch sustain release drugs

Gamma Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd is planning to launch sustain release drugs during the third quarter of this year.

Dushantha Bogahalanda and other officials with the products pic by Susantha Wijegunasekera

National Sales Manager Dushantha Bogahalanda said that they aim at being a total health care provider in the near future and the management plans to invest to make this dream a reality.

Owned by Sri Lanka Entrepreneur Kalana Hewamallika, the company enjoys a annual turnover of Rs 600m and most of their medicines are purchased by the State Pharmaceutical Corporation and the Health Services Ministry.

The state-of-the-art manufacturing facility of the company is in Piliyandala where more than 200 are employed. The facility conforms to the highest quality standards in the manufacturing of medicines which includes tablets, capsules and syrups. "The company recently re-launched the Gamma Gripe mixture which was discontinued some time ago as we couldn't compete with the other products on the price, but now since no other products are available in the market Gamma re-launched it as it is essential for babies", said Bogahalanda.

He said that Gamma Pharmaceuticals and Interpharm are among the five companies manufacturing drugs locally and it helps save the much- needed foreign exchange in the country. Bogahalanda said that the veterinary care division was started four months ago while the company has invested Rs 40m on the nutrition health care line as well. In addition, the company recently invested Rs 30m on a tablet quoting machine which takes away the bitterness of tablets.

The consumer range of the company includes the Kool and fresh mouth wash, mouth spray and the Gamma's gripe mixture.

The company entered the market in 1992 as the successor to Pfizer and Warner Lambert and Warner.

SG