8 new Drug molecules from India

  • Two decades after Indian Pharma started dabbling in new drug research, eight indigenously developed novel drugs are gearing up for late-stage human trials.While two new molecules are being developed by BioCon and Glenmark each, the others are contributed by Dr.Reddy’s, Sun, Ranbaxy and Primal life sciences.
    Dr Reddy’s anti-diabetic drug, codenamed DRF 2593-307, was the first indigenously developed novel drug to enter phase-III trials, in August 2007. This is the penultimate round of testing on patients before marketing approval can be sought. Last year, two more compounds made it to this stage: Biocon’s oral insulin pill and Ranbaxy’s anti-malaria drug. A fourth drug, from Glenmark, to treat diarrhoea, is concurrently undergoing phase-II and phase-III trials.


1) IN-105 (Biocon)
  • Therapy area: Diabetes-insulin
  • Status: In phase-III human trials
  • Target launch: 2011 in India; rest of the world by 2015
  • Global market size: $13 billion
  • Global players: Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly
2) T1h (Biocon)
  • Therapy area: Psoriasis & rheumatoid arthritis
  • Status: Completed phase-II trials
  • Target launch: Not yet announced
  • Global market size: $15-16 billion
  • Global players: Astellas, BMS, Abbot, Amgen
3) DRF 2593-307IN (Dr Reddy’s Lab)
  • Therapy area: Diabetes-PPAR agonists
  • Status: In phase-III trials
  • Target launch: Not announced yet
  • Global market size: $7 billion
  • Global players: Glaxo, Takeda, Abbot, Solvay
4) Crofelemer (Glenmark Pharma)
  • Therapy area: Diarrhoea
  • Status: In phase-III trials
  • Target launch: 2010-11
  • Global market size: $2-3 billion
  • Global players: Glaxo
5) Sun-1334H (Sun Pharma)
  • Therapy area: Allergy
  • Status: Completed phase-II trials
  • Target launch: Not Announced Yet
  • Global market size: $5.5 billion
  • Global players: Sanofi-Aventis, Pfizer
6) GRC 8200 (Glenmark Pharma)
  • Therapy Area: Diabetes-DPP IV inhibitor
  • Status: Completed phase-II trials
  • Target launch: 2013-14
  • Global market size: $1-2 billion
  • Global players: Merck
7) P276 (Primal Life sciences)
  • Therapy area: Cancer
  • Status: Late phase-II trials
  • Target launch: To file for marketing approval in 2011
  • Global market size: $47.7 billion
  • Global players: Roche, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Glaxo
8) Arterolane Maleate+Piperaquine Phosphate (Ranbaxy)
  • Therapy area: Malaria
  • Status: Currently in phase-III trials
  • Target launch: To apply for marketing approval by late-2010
  • Global market size: Less than $1 billion
  • Global players: Novartis
In spite of lower costs of operating in India, R&D of new drug molecules is a long, tiring and expensive affair. The Indian companies have invested in drug molecules especially required in India ( like drugs for malaria, Diabetes, Diarrhoea). The fate of these 8 molecules may well decide future R&D plans of Indian Pharma companies. 
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