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Generics pharmaceutical major Ranbaxy on Thursday took a step into the innovator space with the launch of a new anti-malarial drug. Branded Synriam, the drug is the first molecule indigenously developed by a private Indian pharma player. Ranbaxy has invested $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.
Synthetic input
Ranbaxy claimed that this was 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.
“There was a critical need for a new anti-malaria drug that would address these challenges associated with most commonly used therapies,” said Mr Arun Sawhney, CEO and Managing Director, Ranbaxy. Nearly 120 districts in India are chloroquine-resistant and Synriam has been seen to be effective in these regions during clinical trials.
Synriam is used to treat plasmodium falciparum based malaria, which is about 50 per cent of all malaria cases reported in the country. Rival Cipla is expected to launch Mefliam Plus, also in the same category. To start with, Ranbaxy will market this product in India and then roll it out to countries in Africa and South America. “The drug fills a vital therapy gap, not only in India but also worldwide,” said Ranbaxy chairman, Mr Tsutomu Une, in a statement. “We will make all possible efforts to make Synriam accessible to the world.”
No revenue target
Malaria is a major public health problem in more than 90 countries that host about 40 per cent of the global population. The disease is estimated to cause up to 250 million new infections worldwide every year, claiming half a million lives a year. India accounts for 75 per cent of the 2.5 million reported cases of malaria in South-East Asia.
The drug has been developed through a public-private partnership model, with the Government contributing Rs 5 crore towards phase three clinical trials. As a quid pro quo the company has committed to offer the drug at a lower price to Government institutions. The details of the agreement with the Government were not spelt out.
The company said it has not fixed any revenue or sales targets for the product since it was being treated as a CSR project.
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