Ranbaxy launches new drug for osteoporosis

Mumbai, Apr 3 (UNI) Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd today announced the launch of BONISTA- Teriparatide injection (recombinant human parathyroid hormone) for the treatment of Osteoporosis, in collaboration with Hyderabad-based Virchow Biotech Pvt Ltd.

Ranbaxy is the first company to launch this bio generic product in the world, the company informed the BSE.

The product has been indigenously researched at Virchow Biotech and developed with and from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

Commenting on the launch of the product, Senior Vice President and Regional Director (Asia&CIS) Ranbaxy, Sanjeev I Dani said, ''With growing longevity, osteoporosis, a condition characterised by loss of bone mass, will gain increased attention.

Ranbaxy has a number of new products in its pipeline including ''Bonista'', for the osteoporosis patients who are normally treated by orthopaedics and gynaecologists. ''Bonista'' is also a classic example of our endeavours to offer quality biogeneric therapeutic options to doctors and an affordable and efficacious product to patients,'' he added.

The osteopoiosis segment in India currently has a market size of around Rs 219 crores and grew more than 29 per cent in value terms in 2006-07.

Osteoporosis was highly prevalent in India. An estimated 61 million people in the country are reported to be affected by it. The life span of an average Indian has increased and this contributes to the increased incidence of osteoporosis. Recent data indicates that people here, have lower bone density than their North American and European counterparts.

One of the reasons could be that the majority of Indians have low vitamin D status and are on low dietary calcium which makes them prone to bone diseases. Fifty per cent women have osteoporosis and this translates to over 30 million in actual numbers.

Although data on the prevalence of osteoporotic fractures is limited, it is estimated that each year, osteoporosis causes more than 1.5 million fractures, resulting in permanent disability, loss of independence, and death.

Virchow Biotech, part of the Hyderabad-based Rs 600 crore Virchow Group, is engaged in research, development, manufacture and marketing of a wide range of unique classical biologicals and high value recombinant bio-generie products for serious life-threatening diseases at affordable prices.

Established in 2001, Virchow Biotech produces over 15 biological products in state of the art production facilities equipped to manufacture topical biologicals, recombinants and parenteral biopharmaceuticals. The facilities have been audited and certified by various regulatory agencies for their conformance to current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs). The company also monitors and conducts large multi-centric clinical trials and is a Government of India recognised R&D Centre.

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