Shantha Biotech has launched its brand of clot buster drug, Shankinase, conforming to international standards. Streptokinase is the primary drug for dissolving blood clots and used as a life saving drug in case of acute heart attacks and other conditions like deep vein thrombosis, arterial occlusions and pulmonary embolism. Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, Director General, CSIR, has formally launched the brand. Dr. Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, Health Minister of AP, presided over the function.
The safety and efficacy of Shankinase compared with commercially available natural streptokinase in patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) have been proven in a multi-centric double blind randomized phase III trial in hospitals. The drug's potency was tested by chromogenic assay method and certified by a third party international authority, National Institute of Biological Standards and Controls (NIBSC), UK.
According to a comparitive study done with commercially available streptokinase, endotoxicin content in Shankinase is much lower. It was also found that Shankinase has no trace of streptolycin or streptodornase, which are undesirable constituent in all natural streptokinase brands. Streptokinase significantly improves restoration of normal coronary blood flow and improves outcome in patients with AMI.
It is estimated that over 60 million Indians are affected with Coronary Arterial Disease. An ICMR study has noted the incidence of MI as 103.2 / 1000 in males and 100.3 / 1000 in females in urban areas. According to WHO, by the end of this century, India would account for more than half of the total heart patients in the world. Shankinase aims to offer an affordable high-quality product.
Shankinase will also be exported to various countries other than Europe and US. Around 80 per cent of revenues may come through exports.
Varaprasad Reddy, Managing Director, said, "Shantha has pioneered human recombinant healthcare products in India and Shankinase marks the entry of the company into the cardiology segment. The market for streptokinase in India is valued at over Rs.65 crore currently and is poised to grow at 25-30 per cent."
Launched after three years of intense R & D efforts and an investment of Rs. 10 crore, Shankinase aims to garner a 10 per cent share of this market in the year after launch. We will launch more biotech products in line with our long-term focus on cardiology segment".