Pharmaceutical Division
The Pharmaceutical Division provides a basket of quality, affordable ethical and generic products to prescribing specialists, general and dispensing practitioners, pharmacies, private hospitals and managed healthcare funders.
Aspen Pharmacare has established itself as a globally competitive low-cost producer of quality generic medicines. This has allowed the Group to maintain its leadership position in the private generic market and as the largest supplier of pharmaceuticals to the state.
Generics
Aspen is the leading supplier of generic medicines to the private and public sectors. This leadership position has been achieved by the broad range of quality pharmaceuticals the Group is able to supply at affordable prices. The generic product range is the core of the Group's public sector business which is serviced by the supply of state tenders, public sector hospitals and parastatal institutions. Aspen's range of generic products is extensively used in the treatment of cardiovascular, central nervous system, anti-infective and dermatological conditions. Aspen has developed and is marketing Aspen Stavudine, an affordable generic ARV. MCC approval is expected shortly for the manufacture of Aspen's remaining six ARV's.
Aspen's existing affordable generic product range stands to benefit further from its robust five-year pipeline. During the past financial year 73 new dossiers were submitted to the MCC for approval. These dossiers cover a broad spectrum of categories including anti-hypertensive, central nervous system, NSAID's, ARV's, opthalmics, antimicrobials, antihistamines, cold, flu and cough remedies.
Aspen recently launched CiLift, the first generic citalopramused for the treatment of depression and anxiety. Aspen's sixth product in its "Powerhouse" range of generic injectables was launched. Pharmacare-Cefazolin is a generic of the well-known and established brand Kefzol, the drug of choice for use in surgical prophylaxis.
Existing generic brands such as Stilpane, Persivate, Pharmapress, Panamor, Tenbloka, Venteze, Trepiline and Clavumox continue to provide a solid foundation.
Ethicals
Aspen markets a broad range of ethical products. These products of original research include a number of well established brands. Aspen's ethical business is a leader in the categories of female healthcare, tranquillisers and hypnotics and cardiovascular medicines. Aspen's presence in the ethical sector has been further extended due to an arrangement entered into with GSK during the year. The deal allows Aspen to market, sell, price, distribute and provide customer support for 40 GSK products. With one of the largest detailing field teams in the market, Aspen is now also detailing choice GSK products, further demonstrating the Group's strength in this market sector.
Key products include Mybulen, Kestine, Ativan, Triphasil, Normison, Concor, Distalgesic, Doloxene, Ilosone, Ilotycin, Keflex, Mandokef, Maxaquin, Microval, Nebcin.
Consumer Division
Aspen Consumer Division comprises of over-the-counter (OTC), personal care products and has expanded its focus on complementary medicines in the nutriceutical arena.
OTC
Pharmaceutical products available without prescription.
Over the counter (OTC) products are marketed exclusively through pharmacies. The acquisition of Triomed enabled existing brand equity to be consolidated into the OTC division. Triomed's well marketed and established cold and flu portfolio has bolstered the product range. Clarinese, a generic antihistamine, and Leanor Herbal, an alternative natural slimming aid were amongst the OTC products launched during the year. Other key products include Rinex, Sinumed, Cruciale, Mucospect and Mylocort.
Personal Care
Personal Care products are non-scheduled products marketed through retail chains and specialist outlets. Leading consumer brands include Lennon Dutch Medicines, Safyr Bleu, Prep, Guronsan C, Vitrace and Playboy deodorants and Nutrikids which are found on the shelves of hypermarkets, supermarkets and cash and carry outlets.
Nutraceuticals
There has been an increased consumer interest in alternative products. Aspen launched 8 new Formule Naturelle lines. These include Herbal Vitamin and Mineral Formula for Men and Women, Passionflower for Insomnia and Anxiety, Herbal Kids Immune Support, Natural Passion for Men and Women, Ease-a-Cold and Antioxidant and Immune Support.
Aspen is well positioned to take advantage of the imminent regulation of complementary medicines. Consequently, Aspen is implementing sustainable strategies that will provide the Group with a responsible competitive advantage in this fast growing area of the market.
Group Operations
Aspen manufacturing plants located in Port Elizabeth and East London are seen as core competencies of the Group. These facilities provide a strategic competitive advantage to the Group through their low-cost, high-capacity production capabilities, which have transformed the Group into a globally competitive affordable pharmaceutical producer.
Construction of Aspen's multi-million rand oral solid dosage manufacturing facility in Port Elizabeth began in March 2003. The project is progressing according to schedule and completion is due for the first quarter of 2004. Once this milestone is reached, commissioning of services will be undertaken. Process validation will begin during the second quarter of 2004.
Manufacturing
There are two pharmaceutical manufacturing plants within Aspen Pharmacare.
Aspen Pharmacare Lennon, based in Port Elizabeth, is the Group's flagship factory and the heart of its generic business. It manufactures over 20 tons of finished product daily.
Aspen Pharmacare East London is the site of the Group's important penicillin plant as well as a specialised aerosol facility.
An oral contraceptive facility has also been commissioned at the East London site, and is amongst the leading facilities of its kind in the world and currently manufactures most of the state's oral contraceptive requirements. The world-class oral contraceptive facility has been designed and build on a par with European standards. It presently produces in excess of 14 million oral contraceptive packs per year with capacity to substantially increase this number.
Development
Aspen's commitment to providing quality, affordable generic ARV options for South Africa has been achieved through the skill and efficiency of a focused team. A valuable component of this team is Aspen's highly competent Pharmaceutical Research Laboratories (PRL) scientists. They developed the ARVs in-house in a very short time according to stringent regulatory requirements set by the MCC. PRL's efforts, complemented by the Group's pharmaceutical manufacturing competency, has enabled Aspen to launch Africa's first generic ARV.
