Mankind Pharma is preparing to compete with Abbott India's top-selling synthetic hormone brand, Duphaston (dydrogesterone), by establishing a specialised plant in Udaipur, Rajasthan, capable of end-to-end manufacture of the medicine, which is extensively used to prevent miscarriage and treat infertility.

Humanity is investing around Rs. 250-300 crore on the Udaipur factory, which is anticipated to start operations in September-October of this year.

The plant will produce critical starting materials for dydrogesterone, active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), and formulations.

"Once operational, we will be the world's largest manufacturer of dydrogesterone, maybe more than Abbott," said Rajeev Juneja, managing director of Mankind Pharma.

When Mankind's R&D section was established 13 years ago, one of the goals was to break this molecule, according to Juneja. During the last eight years, Mankind's R&D teams have worked tirelessly to produce the chemical in-house.

"We introduced (dydrogesterone) in 2019; this year (FY23), we will reach 200 crore revenues," Juneja remarked.

Juneja expects a reduced pricing after Humanity gains scale and vertical integration with the Udaipur factory, and he wants to expand the competition outside India.

Industrially manufacturing complicated hormones such as dydrogesterone was a difficult undertaking that Abbott was able to do.

According to IQVIA, Abbott controls the lion's share of India's 610-crore dydrogesterone market in FY22, suggesting an annual growth rate of roughly 46%.

Mankind, located in New Delhi, is rapidly reducing the market share gap with Abbott thanks to strong marketing and price. Its dydrogesterone variant, Dydroboon, has clocked over 150 crore in sales, with a 24.6% market share and a stunning 246% annual rise between FY20 and FY22.

To be sure, Mankind is not alone; Cipla, Alkem, and Eris Lifesciences, among others, are all competing.

"Having vertical integration of the product allows us to control operating costs, quality, and stability in the supply of essential raw materials for our formulations, which gives us a competitive advantage," said Anil Kumar, chief scientific officer at Mankind Research Centre and the man responsible for the dydrogesterone's development.

Abbott isn't about to cede dydrogesterone territory to Mankind; the company has begun a marketing campaign to maintain its growing momentum.