RPG Life Sciences, the pharmaceuticals and biotech arm of the RPG Group, announced that it has commercialised its first indigenously developed and manufactured medicinal grade ketoanalogue – alfalog. The end-to-end ketoanalogue technology has been developed through an in-house R&D effort and it is the first indigenously developed and manufactured ketoanalogue in India.

Ketoanalogues are used for kidney patients to delay dialysis, like alfalog, it also helps in delaying renal replacement therapy (RRT)– dialysis among chronic kidney failure (CKD ) patients.

The product is a complex mix of 10 active ingredients. The technological breakthrough allows the product to remain stable and have better dissolution. The product being very sensitive to temperature and moisture needs to have high stability since instability increases the impurity levels. Better dissolution of the drug ensures better bioavailability, optimising the therapeutic effects.

After cyclosporin, an immunosuppressant, this is one more technological innovation from RPGLS – R&D. RPG Life Sciences currently markets four immunosuppressant brands, namely azoran (azathioprine), arpimune ME (cyclosporine), mofetyl/S (mycophenolate mofetil and mycophenolate sodium) and imunotac (tacrolimus) in India and other emerging markets.

While the company’s immunosuppressant portfolio is well recognised, RPGLS has also been consolidating its nephrology segment for the past two decades. Its division Nephrocare has been a pioneer in launching azoran (azathioprine) indigenously developed and manufactured in India, allowing it to be available to the masses and decrease dependency on imported products. Nephrocare has been focused on developing and manufacturing complex chemical molecules to ensure that the therapy is available at an affordable price to the Indian patients. Nephrocare has been ranked as number one in the nephrology segment by ORG IMS recently.

Looking at the current disease pattern and incidences of CKD in patients, the company has realigned its portfolio to cater to the huge dialysis market. In the past one year the division has launched three new products to consolidate this therapy line. These are RPO- erythropoietin, azofer – iron sucrose and statkal – calcium polystyrene. These new products have added to more than 20 per cent to the sales volumes in the first year. The R&D team is working on a couple of other molecules to be launched in this therapy area through the new drug delivery system (NDDS) route.

“We are continuously working to design new formulations or work on existing molecules through NDDS route to come up with innovative formulations. Not only are we working at the back end but we are also using IT to support the doctors. Nephrology segment is our strength and I believe, that alfalog has the potential to steer our growth aspirations,” said Ajit Singh Chouhan, managing director, RPGLS.