The major pharmaceuticals company, Cipla is going to bring the generic version of Deferasirox in the Indian market very soon. The company manufactures the Deferasirox on its own and the drug is actually a once-a-day oral iron chelator that is used for treating the iron overload, which occurs due to blood transfusions. The drug is also beneficial to the patients suffering from the conditions like thalassemia and this once-daily format of the drug can ensure better compliance.
The industry sources have informed that the product is actually coming from the Novartis stable and it is sold under the Exjade brand name in the international market. One of the spokespersons from the company has added that though at present, Novartis does not sell its Deferasirox (Exjade) in the Indian market; Novartis is having plans of launching the Defarasirox in the second quarter of 2008. The industry sources also said that the version of Deferasirox that Cipla is going to sale, will be sold locally under the brand name Desirox.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of Cipla, Mr. Amar Lulla, the drug is available as tablets in the market and it is going to be sold locally at a fraction of the price at which it is sold internationally. The Novartis recently pointed out that it has already applied for patent protection on Defarasirox formulation in India and the application is under review by the Indian Patent Office. The sources informed that the drug got its first approval in the US in November 2005 and its price varies internationally and mainly depends on the dosage and weight of the patient. An official from the company said, "The price is, however, comparable with the total costs of treatment with deferoxamine when drug and associated drug delivery costs are considered".
|
|
|
|
|
| Posted : 4/2/2008 |
|
|
|
|
