CB BureauSynriam is India’s first indigenously
developed drug for malaria treatment and a tablet a day for three days costs
only Rs 130.
Launched on World Malaria Day as part
of Ranbaxy’s corporate social responsibility (CSR), Synriam is expected to
become a part of India’s national malaria eradication programme. The drug has
been developed by Ranbaxy Laboratories, owned by Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo Co., in
collaboration with the department of science and technology (DST), Government of India, and support
from the Indian Council for Medical Research.
‘We did not look at this as a commercial
development. Instead, this is a CSR venture for us. This drug is the most
economical drug available for treatment of malaria,’ Arun Sawhney, chief
executive officer and managing director, Ranbaxy Laboratories, told media representatives.
The research and development process for
the drug began in 2003. Ranbaxy claims to have spent around Rs 150 crore on
Synriam and the contribution from DST was Rs 5 crore.
Commenting on the research and development
costs, Sawhney said, ‘Recovery of cost from this venture might take years… this
is a passionate social initiative
and I do not think the drug will bring us significant
profits. If it is a part of the government programme, we will further lower the
prices, but it must be kept in mind that we cannot sell it below its production
cost.’
The drug is undergoing final stages of
clinical trials in Africa, a region that accounts for 90 per cent of
malaria-related deaths globally. India, however, accounts for 75 per cent of
the 2.5 million cases of malaria reported in Southeast Asia.
The company claims that Synriam is suited
for the national programme as it can be had at any time of the day, without
dietary restrictions, leading to better compliance. Also, as the drug is made
from a synthetic source, production can be scaled up whenever required and
consistent supply can be maintained at a low cost.
Interestingly, of the 17 medicines approved
by the World Health Organization (WHO) for treatment of malaria, more than half
are supplied by Indian drug companies such as Cipla, Ipca Laboratories, and
Ajanta Pharma. Other players include multinationals such as Sanofi Aventis and
Novartis. A WHO pre-qualification is essential for including a malaria drug
under any global programme and Ranbaxy has to get this international
approval if it is to supply its medicine for the treatment of one of the most
fatal forms of malaria – falciparum malaria infection.