India on April 25 launched its first indigenously
launched anti-malaria new-age drug ‘Synriam'. The drug, produced by
Ranbaxy Laboratories, was formally introduced for marketing here.
The
drug, launched by Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in the presence of
Science and Technology Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, has been developed by
the company in collaboration with the Department of Science and
Technology and supported by the Indian Council for Medical Research.
Malaria
claims half a million lives every year globally and India contributes
to 77 per cent malaria cases of the 2.5 million cases of malaria
reported annually from South East Asia.
The
dual-molecule combination drug conforms to the recommendations of World
Health Organisation (WHO) and will be required to be taken only once a
day for three days.
The drug Synriam is to be used
to treat uncomplicated “Plasmodium falciparum” malaria in adults. It
provides relief from most malaria-related symptoms, including fever, and
has a high cure rate of over 95 per cent.
“Today,
India joins the elite club of the countries to have developed a new drug
indigenously for malaria on the occasion of World Malaria Day,” Ranbaxy
Laboratories CEO and MD Arun Sawhney said.
Speaking
on the occasion, Mr. Azad said the drug should be made accessible and
affordable so that poor and needy can purchase it as they are the ones
who are most exposed to malaria.
After commencing
research on the drug in 2003, the company received the Drug Controller
General of India's (DCGI) approval in 2011 to manufacture and market it
in India.
The drug is efficacious and has the
advantage of “compliance and convenience” as it can be taken at any time
before or after meals. The course is one tablet a day for three days.
Unlike artemisinin-based drugs, it has a synthetic source, the
production of which can be scaled up whenever required and a consistent
supply of the drug can be maintained at low cost.
The
company has spent close to $ 30 million on research and development of
the drug, of which the Government of India contributed a total of Rs. 5
crore.
The company also plans to introduce the drug
in African countries once the clinical trials are completed and the
necessary regulatory approvals are received.
Company's
President (R&D) Sudershan Arora said the clinical trials in Africa
will be over by the first quarter of 2013 and the drug could be
introduced in the same year after getting the necessary approvals there.
