IT looks like ethical drug giant United Laboratories Inc. (Unilab) is preparing for the surge in demand for medicines that is expected to be brought about by the still-unsigned Cheaper Medicines Law.

Amherst Laboratories Inc., a unit of Unilab, is investing P1.52 billion for the establishment of a new facility that will produce liquid-based medicines for various ailments. It plans to expand its existing manufacturing line in Biñan, Laguna, which was inaugurated in March 2007.

The toll manufacturing facility produces new medicines that will cater primarily to the needs of the domestic generic companies. Ethical drugs that will be manufactured in the proposed plant include preparations for antipain, an-infective preparations, antiinfective, pulmonary diseases and ailments (anti-tuberculosis products, anti-asthma, antihistamines and anticough/cold), gastrointestinal ailments and diabetics as well as multivitamin and mineral products.

The products will be in liquid form such as syrups and suspensions and will be manufactured in accordance with the certificate of product registration issued by the Bureau of Food and Drugs.

The new plant is expected to start commercial operations in March 2010 and will employ at least 195 Filipinos at full capacity.

The project qualified for government incentives, which include income-tax holiday of up to eight years and duty-free importation of equipment and raw materials, after it was granted pioneer status by the Board of Investments. It is listed in the 2007 Investment Priorities Plan under the heading preferred activities for health care and wellness products.

Started in March 2005 and completed one-and-a-half years later in October 2006, Amherst produces mostly prescription medicines in tablet, capsule and powder form, as well as ointments and nonsteroidal creams. It expects to produce more than one billion tablets a year.

Some of the notable products Unilab, and now through Amherst, manufacture are its famous Biogesic brand of paracetamol, Hydrite rehydration salts, Dolfenal brand of Mefenamic Acid and Lormide tablet. Many of these products are now the leading brands in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Myanmar.

Unilab, the most dominant provider of over-the-counter pharmaceuticals in the Philippines, has developed significant technical and marketing alliances with major multinational pharmaceutical companies and research organizations based in the US, Europe and Japan.

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IT looks like ethical drug giant United Laboratories Inc. (Unilab) is preparing for the surge in demand for medicines that is expected to be brought about by the still-unsigned Cheaper Medicines Law.

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A FRIEND had this horror story to tell. It started with his e-mail address, which was obviously hijacked. At any rate, the mailing list of this friend received a standard message asking for help. It seemed a friend was currently on a work-related trip to the United Kingdom.