Female Health Signs Condom Agreement for India.(Hindustan Latex Ltd.)

2001 DEC 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Female Health Company (FHC) has signed an agreement with Hindustan Latex, Ltd., (HLL) India's largest male condom manufacturer. HLL also manufactures and markets a wide range of hormonal contraceptives. The agreement was signed in London, at FHC's manufacturing site for the Female Condom.

"As FHC continues to expand the global market for the Female Condom, we recognize the fundamental importance of collaborating with partners who share our commitment of improving public health by providing high-quality products," said Dr. Mary Ann Leeper, president of the company. "HLL has over 35 years' experience in manufacturing and marketing contraceptives throughout India and other areas of the world, and we look forward to working closely with HLL to make the Female Condom a reality for women throughout India."

HLL, an Indian government undertaking, was established in 1966 to make superior quality male condoms widely available in India, now the world's second most populated country with more 1 billion people. HLL has subsequently launched numerous brands of condoms and also manufactures oral contraceptive pills, intra-uterine devices, latex gloves, blood bags, shunts and sutures.

With headquarters in Trivandrum in Kerala State in South India, HLL has several factories throughout the country. In addition, HLL has an extensive sales and marketing force throughout all of India with more than 1,000 wholesalers and 160,000 retail outlets for its products. HLL is the largest supplier of male condoms in India, manufacturing over half of India's annual male condom supply of 1 billion.

In addition to being the world's second largest country, India also has one of the highest rates of HIV infection. Three million people are currently estimated to be infected with HIV.

"HLL is India's leading contraceptive manufacturer. We are ...