At least 39 probiotic drug brands, mainly in the area of gastroenterology, from 30 major Indian companies have already created a probiotics drug market in India worth Rs 80 crore, with an year-on-year growth of 41.1 per cent in 2006.

The market was likely to grow further in the coming years as many of the major Indian pharmaceutical companies are in the process of developing and in-licensing probiotic drugs, according to industry sources.

Darolac and Sporlac, two gastro-related drugs in this category from Aristo Pharmaceuticals and Uni-Sankyo respectively, enjoy a market share of Rs 7.9 crore each.

Tablets India's Bifilac, prescribed for antibiotics induced diarrhoea, is the largest brand currently in India with an annual sales of Rs 9.9 crore. US Vitamin's ViBact is another major brand in this category with a turnover of Rs 8.2 crore, according to the data from ORG-IMS.

Other major players in the probiotics market in India include companies like Ranbaxy [Get Quote] (Binifit), Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, which has four probiotic brands, Zydus Cadila, Unichem, JB Chem, and GlaxoSmithKline [Get Quote].

"Since antibiotics reduce the immunity of patients, doctors now prefer to prescribe probiotic drugs and health supplements to enhance immunity. It is a highly growing segment in India," noted Sharad Kasalre, vice-president, Alkem Foods, a division of Alkem Labs.

The US-based VSL Pharmaceuticals, one of the largest manufacturers of probiotic products in the world, will soon license its lead drug VSL-3.

"We are in the final stages of discussions with a major Indian pharmaceutical company for making the drug in India. It is prescribed for irritable bowel syndrome, which causes abdominal pain, gas, diarrhoea and constipation. We are also negotiating with another Indian company for marketing some of our products in the field of gynaecology and oral care," said K S Chadha, Asia-Pacific head of VSL and country head of its Indian subsidiary CD Pharma India.

Industry sources say that apart from gastrology-related drugs, new probiotic drugs are being developed in areas like paediatrics, oral care and gynaecology.

Tablets India, which has technological tie-ups with TOA Pharma of Japan and Chr. Hansen A of Denmark for development of probiotic drugs, has launched an oral tablet for vaginal infections. The drug is marketed by Glenmark under the brand name 'Ecoflora'.

A Frost and Sullivan study estimates that the probiotic ingredient market in the US will reach $450 million by 2010. According to a data monitor estimation, functional foods and health immunity market in the US will reach $750 million by 2008, and overall probiotics health product market is set to reach $5 billion in the near future from the $3.9 billion in 2006.

Sources also cite probiotic related functional foods are gaining popularity in India. Amul recently launched an innovative probiotic ice-cream, with health claims. Alkem Health Foods has launched health supplements, sweeteners, ready to eat cookies and jellies.

Alkem, the largest manufacturer of Fructo-Oligo Saccharides, which helps the growth of good probiotic bacteria, is planning to roll out more products in the national and global markets, said Sharad.

In 2005, the Drug Controller General of India had made it mandatory to get a license from the drug control department for manufacturing and marketing all probiotic products in the country, with a view to curb the practice of selling such products as functional foods, said sources.