Several pharmaceutical companies in the country are gearing up to further exploit the novel drug delivery system (NDDS) platform technology, as the NDDS drugs are expected to gain more importance in the immediate future.
According to the available data, NDDS drugs, which have been witnessing drastic growth with the introduction of new techniques and routes of delivery, contribute nearly 15 per cent to the global pharmaceutical industry and its share to the domestic segment is nearly four per cent of the industry. Industry experts opine that the growth, which the sector has been witnessing in the recent years, is mainly due to the increased R&D spending, competition and strong international market.
Commenting on the scope for platform technology for the Indian companies, Ajay K Vij, CEO, Dabur Pharma, said, "NDDS platform technologies have tremendous potential for Indian companies, especially for companies with oncology focus like Dabur Pharma as many of the existing cancer therapies have significant side effects associated with their formulation. The key for any novel delivery system will continue to be delivery of the therapy to the target without harming the normal cells".
Pharma companies today consider the use of NDDS platform technology as an opportunity to strengthen their brands by making the products easier to administer, more patient friendly and effective. It is crucial in terms of the efficacy of a medicine, as drug compliance generally wanes off with multiple dosing or in case a drug needs to be taken continuously over a long period of time. Drug delivery companies are now at the forefront of innovation and are all set to leverage the global pharmaceutical industry.
As per industry experts, the growth is mainly because these formulations are more patient friendly and represent and immense opportunity for the pharma companies to sharpen their competitive edge in an increasingly crowded market place. Ranbaxy Laboratories, one of the largest players in the domestic pharmaceutical industry and a leader in the NDDS segment, is set to further exploit the growing segment.
The company's NDDS focus, which has 40 novel products in its kit, is mainly on the development of new drug applications (NDA) or abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) of oral controlled-release products for the regulated markets. Ranbaxy's in-house NDDS programmes are primarily focused on the oral segment. In the current year, Ranbaxy has further augmented its NDDS portfolio with the launch of six NDDS formulations; many of them are being marketed for the first time.
Commenting on Ranbaxy's strength in the segment, the company spokesperson, said, "At Ranbaxy, research in NDDS represents an innovative and strategic activity focused on maximizing the overall therapeutic value of commonly prescribed pharmaceutical formulations by enhancing their performance and reducing their adverse event profile. Such innovation may also help to improve the overall quality and efficacy of the drugs and result in superior patient experience".
It is learnt that currently, another leading player in the segment Dabur is exploring innovative liposomal delivery system and depot delivery system for the development of anticancer molecules and peptide based targeted therapies.
The Mumbai based Themis Medicare is another Indian firm, which is planning to accelerate NDDS research. Currently, the company is working on two main technologies, clear gel and injectables. It is also working on designing an injectable formulation for lipophilic compound with its novel drug dissolving technology. The company has designed more than five formulations with the help of this technology, and aceclofenac ready to use injection is one of the latest examples of this technology, which is the most widely accepted molecule after Coxib tragedy.