A large share of branded medicines in India are made by licensed contract manufacturers on behalf of marketing companies. This is a normal and legitimate way to run a pharma business. As a buyer, what you need to know is whether the manufacturing site is capable and whether the marketing company stands behind every batch.
What contract manufacturing means
The marketing company owns the brand, the formulation specifications and the market. A licensed manufacturing facility produces the medicine to those specifications and packs it under the brand name. Responsibility for quality is shared, and the brand owner remains answerable to doctors and buyers.
What to check
- Manufacturing licence: the site should hold a valid licence from the state drug authority for the dosage form, such as tablets, capsules, syrups or injectables.
- GMP certification: ask for the current certificate and its validity date. Some facilities also hold ISO or WHO-GMP certification.
- Quality control: ask how raw materials and finished batches are tested.
- Traceability: every pack should carry a batch number, manufacturing date and expiry date.
- Packaging: check labelling, composition printed on the pack and tamper-resistant sealing.
Questions to ask the marketing company
- Which facility makes each of your products?
- Can I see the licence and GMP certificate?
- Who handles complaints and batch recalls?
- How do you handle expiry and returns?
Eridanus Healthcare's approach
Eridanus Healthcare does not run its own plant. Its range of more than 300 products is made at quality manufacturing partners including Akums, Alteus and Vega Biotech, and the company shares manufacturer details with business partners on request. Established in 2012 and active in the trade since 2004, it supplies licensed pharmacies, distributors and hospitals and responds to business enquiries through its contact page.
