Ranbaxy to launch anti-malaria drug on trail soon

Ranbaxy, India’s largest pharmaceuticals company, on Monday announced to launch its indigenously developed anti-malaria drug for the third phase clinical tests in three countries - India, Bangladesh and Thailand.

The combination of Arterolane maleate and Piperaquine phosphate will prove to be more powerful against P falciparum malaria, and also cost lower to available alternatives, said Ranbaxy in a filing to Bombay Stock Exchange.

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"I am delighted that our anti-malaria drug is entering Phase-III trials. Ranbaxy has always been at the forefront of research for drugs that are both relevant and affordable. Our new anti-malaria drug, likely the first NCE from India, will benefit patients immensely and provide a more potent solution to developing nations where Malaria is endemic,” said Malvinder Mohan Singh, Chairman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ranbaxy, which has been now acquired by Japanese firm Daiichi Sankyo.

The Gurgaon based Indian firm is also planning to market the drug in Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific after completing all trials.

Describing the merits of this new drug, Ranbaxy stated, ‘the existing medicines have developed resistance to the malarial parasite and new alternatives are comparatively expensive with limited scalability because they are derived from an agricultural source while the Arterolane maleate + Piperaquine phosphate is made from synthetic intermediates and hence easier to manufacture with better predictability and reliability of supplies.’

‘The drug is being developed as a once-a-day therapy for three days compared to existing therapy which requires an adult to consume 24 tablets over three days,’ added Ranbaxy.

Ranbaxy’s, R&D (Generics, NDDS, Clinical & Drug Development), president Dr Sudershan Arora said the company expects to complete the trial and apply for marketing authorisation by late 2010.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), as many as 250-300 million cases of malaria occur every year, primarily in developing countries that cause about million deaths every year.