Ranbaxy unveils India’s anti-malarial drug
INDIA – Ranbaxy launched a new anti-malarial drug called Synriam, which is the first molecule indigenously developed by a private Indian pharmaceutical company. Ranbaxy has invested US$30 million since 2003 to develop this drug.
The new drug is priced at Rs 130 for three tablets. The dosage is one tablet per day for three days, compared with other medicines, where two or four tablets are required to be taken twice daily for three or more days.
(From left to right) Arun Sawhney, CEO, Ranbaxy Laboratory Ltd., Vilasrao Deshmukh, Union Minister of Science and Technology, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Tsutomu Une, Chairman, Ranbaxy at the launch of Synriam in New Delhi on April 25.
The company claims that this is the cheapest and most efficient anti-malarial drug in the market. The drug, manufactured at Ranbaxy’s Goa plant, is also independent of dietary restrictions. The raw material for the drug is synthetically made which will allow the company to address supply concerns. At present, malaria drugs are based on artemisinin, which is derived from plants. India has to depend on imports of the raw material and there are volatilities in prices and supply.
According to Ranbaxy, Synriam was proven effective in nearly 120 districts in India were patients are chloroquine-resistant.
Synriam is used to treat plasmodium falciparum based malaria, which is about 50% of all malaria cases reported in the country. The new drug will be available in India and then will roll out to countries in Africa and South America.
Category: Medical breakthrough, Pharmaceuticals
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