Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd has launched Bonista-Teriparatide injection (recombinant human parathyroid hormone) for the treatment of osteoporosis, in collaboration with Virchow Biotech Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad, India.
The product has been indigenously researched at Virchow Biotech and developed with aid from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Commenting on the launch of the product, Sanjeev Dani, senior vice president and regional director (Asia & CIS), Ranbaxy, said, "With growing longevity, Osteoporosis, a condition characterised by loss of bone mass, would 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".
The osteoporosis segment in India currently has a market size of around Rs 219 crore and grew more than 29 per cent in value terms in 2006-07.
Osteoporosis is highly prevalent in India. An estimated 61 million people in India 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 Indians 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 As regards the burden of osteoporosis in the Indian scenario, 50 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, engages in research, development, manufacture and marketing of a wide range of unique classical biologicals and high value recombinant bio-generic 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 (cGMPs). Virchow Biotech also monitors and conducts large multi-centric clinical trials and is a Government of India recognized R&D Centre".