Dabur Pharmaceuticals Ltd, a division of the Rs 915-crore healthcare major Dabur India Ltd, has set up its maiden overseas venture in Britain with a $ 5 million investment commitment. It is also considering similar ventures in Russia and in African countries.

The move is in line with the company''s expansion plans to enter overseas markets, especially in the area of oncological, or anti-cancer, products.

Dabur''s British arm has been registered as Axol, a separate company to manufacture and market oncological products for the European markets. Axol will manufacture and market Dabur''s products sold in India along with products developed exclusively for the European markets.

"We have already obtained permission from the British government to invest $5 million including a manufacturing unit, which will be fully operational in the next couple of years," says Suresh Pathak, general manager - marketing and sales - Dabur Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Commenting on the company''s domestic plans, Mr Pathak said the company would introduce six new products, two each in therapeutic segments of gynaecology, oncology and respiratory, over the next 12 months. The gynaecological product Nefralein Nasal spray to treat endometriosis will be launched in September 1999. The products have been developed by Dabur Research Foundation.

Dabur Pharmaceuticals markets products in the therapeutic segments of oncology, radiology, gastrointestinal, gynaecology and anti-infectives. Oncology is the leading segment, accounting for 25 per cent of the company''s turnover. The company is aiming for Rs 100-crore sales by the end of the 1999-2000 financial year against Rs 72-crore in 1998-99.