To provide the market with affordable and safe drugs, Vanguard has focused on generic medicines. Generic medicines allow patients to access safe, effective, high-quality medicines at 10%-80% of the price of branded originator medicines. In this way, generic medicines support the sustainability of health care provision and contribute to controlling pharmaceutical expenditure.

You can take comfort in generics as they are therapeutically equivalent to its branded drug and have been certified as generic in the country where it is sold, on the basis of bioequivalence. According to the FDA, generics are just as safe as the original branded drug since generics use the same active ingredients and are shown to work the same way in the body. Generics share the same risks and benefits as branded drugs but are available at a significantly lower cost.

The global generic drug industry is capturing an increasing share of the pharmaceuticals market with key patent expirations and cost containments. The Generic drug industry is expected to maintain double digit growth rates through 2011 and reach a level of $69 billion.

Manufacturing in India

Vanguard outsources it's manufacturing to India where they can depend on its quality and offer drugs below market competitors' rates. Its manufacturer is internationally accredited for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP); it follows the revised Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1945 WHO guidelines; and is ISO 9001-2000 certified, enabling them to provide Vanguard's "Care for Quality" and "Cure for All" through India's cost advantages.

India's Strengths

• Knowledge based industry
• Large manufacturing base for high quality drugs and formulations
• Developing cost effective technologies for drug intermediaries and bulk
.. actives without a compromise on quality
• Cost advantage in terms of drug production, maintenance of high
.. standards in terms of purity, stability and international safety, health
.. and environment protection
• Tremendous export potential
• Major driver of future growth
• Strong scientific and technical manpower
• World class national laboratories in process development
• Increasing balance of trade in the sector
• An excellent centre for clinical trials
• Competencies in chemistry and process development

On March 31, 2008, Former President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam expressed his vision of seeing India as a hub for scientific research and pharmaceutical manufacturing, and has challenged the India pharmaceutical industry to set itself a target of producing 40% of the world's generic medicines. Vanguard embraces this challenge and plans, to its fullest capacity, to help achieve this goal.