Business Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Tuesday, Jul 11, 2006
Business Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Tuesday, Jul 11, 2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Marketing
-
New Products & Services Bristol-Myers launches Hepatitis B drug P.T. Jyothi Datta
Mumbai , July 10 After having got regulatory approval in India earlier this year, Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) has launched Baraclude, its oral anti-viral therapy indicated for the treatment of chronic Hepatitis B virus infection in adults. Baraclude is the brand name under which BMS sells entecavir. And the company will import the drug into India from the US, where it first got marketing approval for the drug over a year ago.
Priced lowest
Priced at Rs 208 for a 0.5 mg tablet, the medicine is priced at one-fourth its price in the US, besides being the lowest when compared to the other 21 countries that it is available, Dr Ajay Tiku, BMS' Medical Director in India, told Business Line. The significance of bringing Baraclude into the country is that India is home to four per cent of the 350 million people chronically affected by Hepatitis B, globally. The drug does not cure Hepatitis B, but it is a potent drug that reduces the viral load and as a result reduces the impact of progression of the disease. Besides, it has not shown any resistance developing against the medicine over the last two years, he said. The drug, like all anti-virals, requires strict adherence to the regime prescribed by the doctor. But the company is exploring ways to facilitate better compliance, which is critical to the success of the drug, he added. The drug also has a couple of standard cautions with regard to acid build up in the blood and another liver-related condition. Patients taking the medicine would have to consult their doctors if they discontinue the medicine, Dr Tiku said. In the US, Baraclude was given an urgent approval. In India, the drug got the regulatory Drug Controller General of India's approval in January. After the drug has been launched, BMS will have to conduct surveillance on its safety and give period safety update reports as required by the local law, he said.
More Stories on : New Products & Services | Pharmaceuticals | Health
Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page
|
Stories in this Section |
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | The Hindu Images | Home |
Copyright © 2006, The
Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu Business Line
|