Sun Pharma launches sunscreen brand Suncros

Drug major Sun Pharmaceutical Industries on Wednesday announced the launch of its sunscreen brand 'Suncros' through the company's Global Consumer Healthcare business vertical.

The company will focus on dermatology as the fourth engine of growth for its OTC business, Sun Pharma said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

"Our foray into the dermatology category is an indicator of the focus and importance Sun Pharma assigns to grow the consumer healthcare business," Sun Pharma Global Consumer Healthcare (GCH) business Head Subodh Marwah said.

With Suncros being marketed directly to consumers, the company is now expanding consumers' access to the country's number one dermatologist recommended sunscreen brand, he added.

"Sun Pharma has the largest distribution bandwidth in the prescription business. This will be extensively leveraged to co-promote Suncros brand amongst dermatologists," Sun Pharma India Business CEO Abhay Gandhi said.

The company believes that its first-time co-promoting strategy to market Suncros across both prescription and consumer channels will ensure that the brand continues to receive traction amongst its legacy customers as well as ensure addition of new consumers through over-the-counter (OTC) business, he added.

The company has also signed former Miss India and actress Dia Mirza as Suncros' brand ambassador.

Sun Pharma is rolling out three variants of the Suncros brand through the Global Consumer Healthcare business, it added.

On Wednesday, the shares of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries closed down 0.05% or Rs 0.35 at Rs 738.45 per scrip on the BSE.