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Bangalore , Aug. 6

PHARMA MNC Eli Lilly's `inhaler' insulin, `Oralin', is set to undergo phase 3 clinical trials next year in India, too, during a simultaneous global exercise.

Some six centres where the trials could be held have been recommended to the US parent Eli Lilly & Co and once they are approved, the necessary formalities like application to the regulator for clinical trials and marketing of the drug may begin early next year, according to Eli Lilly & Co (India) CMD, Mr Rajiv Gulati.

However, Oralin is unlikely to hit the market before 2007 and when it does, it will not be for the mass market because of its higher pricing, he told Business Line. Mr Gulati was in Bangalore to unveil HumaCare Junior kits for diabetic children.

Eli Lilly is one of the three global majors chasing a novel insulin delivery system along with Pfizer and Novo Nordisk and is working on an orally sprayable version.

During the first quarter of 2004, the company plans to launch biotech drug Forteo, aimed to fight osteoporosis in mid-life women.

Sales from anti-diabetes products accounts for 50 per cent of the Indian subsidiary's annual turnover, which was Rs 150 crore for the year ended December 2002, Mr Gulati said. Lilly holds 30 per cent of the Rs 250-crore injectible insulin market and is targeting the No.1 slot with a growth of 10 per cent over that for next year, he said.

Under HumaCare Junior, some 6,000 young diabetics identified through doctors will be given complete care kits free of cost till they reach 21 years of age - an initiative said to amount to a spend of Rs 2,000 a year on each child.

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Eli Lilly's Oralin set for phase 3 trials next year

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