30 November, 2004 : CDRI licenses novel Anti Malarial compound to Ipca

CDRI has entered into a collaborative-cum-license agreement with Ipca for further development of its compound 97/78, a promising synthetic substitute for drugs based on Artemisinin derived from the plant Artemisia annua.

CDRI has been granted patents for a range of Artemisinin derivatives and their synthetic substitutes in USA, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and also filed in Malaysia, Thailand, Bangla Desh, Singapore, Indonesia and many other countries to meet new global challenges of the malaria incidence covering 300-400 million patients every year including the Indian population around 20-30 Lakhs.

Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow is a prominent Research Institute of CSIR, Government of India, actively engaged in research areas of national priorities like anti-malarial, tuberculosis and reproductive health along with life styles age related disorders.

Artemisinin based combination therapy has been recommended by WHO for the treatment of P. falciparum malaria. However, availability of the plant Artemisia annua is becoming a problem due to its short supply. A synthetic derivative of artemisinin will be a major break through in cost effective management of falciparum malaria and multi drug resistant falciparum malaria in clinical practice. It is being developed in oral and parental forms.

The gross pharmacological and pre-clinical studies of CDRI compound 97/78 and other related derivatives have shown better efficacy than Artemisinin derivatives. The compound is found to be safe in small and large animals without any apparent toxic effects.

Ipca Laboratories Limited, a Mumbai based fast growing fully integrated pharmaceutical company, leader in anti-malarial drugs in India, producing and exporting wide range of Anti Malarial compounds like Chloroquine, Amodiaquine, Primaquine, Artemether, Arteether and Artesunate and their formulations. Ipca has strong thrust on exports. It exports to over 100 countries which account for 60% of its turnover. Its manufacturing facilities have been approved by regulatory authorities all over the world. Ipca currently spends 4% of its turnover on Research & Development and with this collaborative efforts, Ipca is now entering into a phase of new drug development.