The Hindu Business Line : Zydus Cadila launches pain relief patch

ZYDUS Cadila Healthcare has launched an indigenously manufactured transdermal patch for pain relief with the popular anti-inflammatory drug `Diclofenac'.

To be available only on medical prescription, the `NuPatch' would administer a constant dose of the drug to the patient over a 24-hour period. A single patch will cost Rs 37.

"It is a new drug delivery system that scores over the traditional oral or injection methods. Both oral and injection systems are not able to ensure a constant level of the drug in the body. Besides, oral medication causes gastric irritation while injections are painful," said Mr Ganesh Nayak, Executive Director. The company is now planning to expand the number of drugs that can be administered using the new delivery system. In the next couple of months, Zydus will also launch `Oestradiol', a female hormone and Nicotine therapy through the patch to help smokers quit the habit.

At present, only Novartis offers an imported Nicotine patch regimen that costs about Rs 5,000. Zydus is hoping to launch its own product at a much lower price, Mr Nayak said.

Zydus has invested Rs 12 crore to set up a new line for manufacturing three lakh patches per month at its plant at Moraiya near Ahmedabad. It hopes to sell at least one-lakh units of NuPatch per month and is eyeing Rs 5 crore revenues from the new product in a year.

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