Lupin Lab Plans To Launch Anti-Tb Drug `Rifapentine'
Pharmaceutical major Lupin Laboratories is planning to launch the new anti-TB drug Rifapentine. The company will, however, take the final decision on the issue in the next fortnight.
"We have already developed rifapentine. But it has not been launched as a formulation yet, because we are still crystallising our plans," said Manohar Arora, president, pharmaceuticals, Lupin Laboratories.
Rifapentine was originally discovered by pharmaceutical multinational Hoechst Marion Roussel, Germany. As Hoechst has not launched the drug in India, Lupin might just beat it to the market.
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Rifapentine is a new long-acting anti-TB drug which is meant to be taken in place of rifampicin along with three other drugs ethambutol, isoniazid and pyrazinamide. Unlike rifampicin which has to be taken every day, rifapentine is taken only twice a week in the first two months and once a week in the next six months.
The main advantage of this drug is that it helps to improve compliance levels amongst TB patients. Also, the patient has to be administered between 1,000 and 1,200 mg of rifapentine in the week as against 450 mg everyday of rifampicin reducing possible side-effects emerging from toxicity.
"However, even if rifapentine is to be taken just once or twice a week, the rest of the drugs (isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutol) have to be taken every day. Hence, it may confuse the patient even further and he might mistakenly reduce the frequency of taking the other drugs. The purpose of better
compliance would then get defeated," added Arora.
The company will consult the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) and medical experts about the feasibility of launching the drug without adding to the confusion of the patient. It will take a final decision only after that. It is yet to secure DGCI approval for rifapentine.
It has also concluded discussions with the World Health Organisation at a recent international conference on tuberculosis.
The total market for anti-TB drugs in India is Rs 340 crore. Lupin is the leader with a market share of 41 per cent.