Despite Ranbaxy Setback, Indian Cos' Drug Research Stays on Course (India)
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
The malaria drug industry faced a major setback following the withdrawal of funding by the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) from an attempt by Ranbaxy Ltd. to develop a new antimalarial treatment. Although Ranbaxy plans to go forward, without funding some are skeptical of the drug's chances. However, two other Indian companies also have promising antimalarial drugs in development. Ipca Laboratories Ltd. leads the pack with four prospects. Two of these molecules are being developed with the support of the Central Drug Research Institute and are currently in preclinical or phase I trials. A third molecule, developed by the Indian Institute of Science, is also in preclinical trials. Ipca's fourth drug in the works is just a new dosage of an older treatment. The fifth drug is being tested by Unimark Pharma Ltd. with the support of the MMV. All five drugs are based on some combination of arteminsinin, a Chinese herb. (Click here for more