Venus completes phase III trials of anti-bacterial molecule

Drug firm Venus Remedies today said it has completed phase III clinical trials of Etimicin sulphate, used for treating bacterial infections in respiratory and urinary tracts.

The company owns exclusive manufacturing and marketing rights in India for Etimicin sulphate, a novel aminoglycoside molecule, Venus Remedies said in a statement.

According to the Chandigarh-based firm, Etimicin has captured 80 per cent market share of the total aminoglycoside market in China.

"Venus is expecting to capture the same market share after Etimicin launch in domestic market that is expected in the second quarter of 2011," Venus Remedies Joint Managing Director Manu Chaudhary said.

"Etimicin Sulphate, new generation semi-synthetic aminoglycoside antibiotic has proved to be 50 per cent safer and more efficacious as compared to other commonly used aminoglycosides. It will provide 25 per cent faster cure rate and is likely to reduce the treatment time," he added.

The current size of domestic aminoglycoside formulation market in retail segment is Rs 600 crore, which is growing at 6 to 8 per cent per annum.

Phase III trials were conducted on 216 patients and the company has submitted the reports to the DCGI office, after encouraging results of the trials, it said.

The molecule is under patent protection in India, China and major markets of the world, it added.

Shares of Venus Remedies today closed at Rs 251.10 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), down 0.48 per cent from its previous close.