Indian pharmaceutical companies producing macrolides such as erythromycin, roxithromycin, azithromycin and clarithromycin, used in treating infection of the upper respiratory tract, have reported a sharp rise in business after the spread of the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus.

The Vadodara-based Alembic, the country's largest producer of macrolides, is the biggest beneficiary of the rise in demand.

According to company officials, Alembic's order book position for the drug is full for the next two months, with orders pouring in from China and Canada. Several European countries, where traces of the Sars virus have been detected, have also ordered the antibiotic.

"The orders are largely for azithromycin, a macrolide used to control pneumonia. Sars shows a secondary infection of congestion of the lungs, as in pneumonia," an Alembic official said. The firm is supplying in bulk form.

The official claimed Alembic was the only company in the country making macrolides from the basic stage. "All other companies making macrolides import tioc, an intermediate product, largely from China. With the spread of the Sars virus in China, we have a distinct advantage over others in the production of the drug," the official added.

The Chandigarh-based Ind-Swift Laboratories, the bulk drug arm of Ind-Swift, also said orders for macrolides had jumped in the past few weeks. "Our orders have gone up five times, mainly from China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam," V K Mehta, joint managing director of Ind-Swift, said.

Mehta added that the company was gearing up to meet the demand. "We have sufficient supplies of the molecules and have stepped up production. Our plant is running at full capacity," he added.

Like Alembic, Ind-Swift is also supplying in bulk form. However, unlike Alembic, Mehta said his company had received orders to supply azithromycin as well as clarithromycin and roxithromycin.