Iran is looking for a partner to market herb-based anti-HIV medication in the Indian sub-continent, it is learnt.
According to the officials, `'an Indian company based in Hyderabad is in talks with its Iranian counterpart for parternership for making and marketing the drug for the treatment of HIV infection.''
However the details with respect to the deals are not yet public. The officials said "the deal is in final stage and an agreement is expected within a short period." The officials declined to name the companies that will partner the deal on the grounds of confidentiality.
According to data provided by the officials at the Consulate General of Islamic Republic of Iran in Hyderabad, Iranian Research Centre for HIV /AIDS has developed a novel drug against AIDS. The drug is produced from herbal extract by using nanotechnology. The toxicology analysis has been approved by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education. The data claims that the herbal extract product called as IMOD has immune system modular effects that increase the CD4 count in effected patient.
In a study on HIV patients with CD4 count less than 200 it has been found the CD4 count increased significantly after the 1-3 month treatment course. The effect remained for longer period and the patients were not hospitalised. The maximum treatment period is for 90 days through intravenous dosage of IMOD 4 ml vial diluted in 100 ml of normal saline, the data says.
The officials said the drug has been tested in 700 infected persons and is currently not recommen-ded in pregnant women and lactating mothers. The data explains positive result of clinical trials (all I, II, and III phase) with increase in CD4 count in HIV infected people than the controlled group. IMOD is the fifth generation of medicine against AIDS and can be used along with other anti-retroviral drugs. It will be tested in another 3000-5000 Iranian patients for efficacy within next couple of months.
To a query on prevalence of HIV / AIDS and its treatment in Iran the officials said 'as of now there are over 30,000 HIV affected persons in Iran which is comparatively less in numbers. The disease is increasing in the region with prevalence in prisons. Majority of the infections are due to usage of infected syringes by addicted patients. Unsafe sexual practices are another cause of concern for HIV transmission in Iran.'
'The drugs and treatment services are fully backed by government; patients are required to afford the cost CD4 study (CD4 count is used in combination with the viral load test, which measures the level of HIV in the blood, to determine the staging and outlook of the disease). The monthly cost to government for each patient is US $400. Drugs that are used for treatment of HIV patients in Iran are often imported form India. There is also a domestic company (Iran) that produces copycat version of some of these drugs,' the officials said.
With final piece of the jig-saw to fall in place, there will be a tie-up between a Hyderabad based company and one of the prominent players in the Islamic Republic of Iran as far as the drugs and pharmaceuticals are concerned in West Asia as well as other countries, it is learnt. The tie-up will be probably in the area of HIV/AIDS drugs.
Though 90 percent of the domestic requirement is met by their own companies, some of the drugs and medicines that Iran imports are from India. Majority of the companies from whom Iran obtain drugs are based in Hyderabad and one is in Bangalore, the officials said.