March 27, 2002
MEDIA RELEASE
Lupin pioneers simplified TB treatment in India
AKuriT โ” a customized therapy for patients of all weight groups
Lupin, India’s largest manufacturer of anti-TB drugs has successfully introduced AKuriT, a revolutionary simplified therapy as per WHO’s latest guidelines for treatment of tuberculosis. AKuriT is fixed dose combination of the 4 essential anti-TB drugs โ” rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol and pyrazinamide (in a single tablet). India is the first Asian country where Lupin has launched AKuriT.
According to Mr. Pradeep Rane, President Pharmaceuticals, Lupin Limited, โLupin has always been at the forefront of TB-eradication medications. TB kills more than 1000 people a day (one every minute) and the disease is spreading rampantly largely due to non-compliance to therapy. Since AKuriT is a simplified treatment, its main benefit is that it allows doctors to prescribe weight-related dosage in an โeasy-to-prescribe/easy-to-explain to patientโ form; thereby improving chances of patient-compliance.
WHO in its Revised Guidelines has advised that the anti-TB drugs available in a fixed dose combination (FDC) can improve compliance to therapy. Further, if the patient has to be cured of TB, he has to take correct and total dosage of anti-TB medications.
Formulated in keeping with WHO guidelines, AKuriT enables doctors to accurately prescribe dosage, related to the patient’s body weight. This ensures that lower weight patients are free from side effects due to higher dosing and higher weight patients do not get sub-optimal treatment. Adult weight bands identified are: lower weight (30 to 37 kg), average weight (38 to 54 kg), higher weight (55 to 70 kg) and heavy weight (71 kg and above). Doctors can also prescribe AKuriT Kid formulations for children and younger patients.
The AKuriT range has the essential anti-TB drugs in the following combinations:
AKuriT 4
โ” Rifampicin, Ethambutol, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide
AKuriT 3
โ” Rifampicin, Ethambutol, Isoniazid,
AKuriT Z
โ” Rifampicin, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide
AKuriT
โ” Rifampicin, Isoniazid
AKuriT Z Kid
โ” Rifampicin, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide
AKuriT Kid
โ” Rifampicin, Isoniazid
AKuriT is a prescription drug, which was launched to the medical community in October last year. Leading chest physicians across India have reported superior compliance rates in treatment of TB patients with AKuriT. Lupin plans this year include reaching out to over 55000 doctors at the grassroots level across India to educate them about this new therapy. Handing out information booklets, telecast of educational films, panel discussions and detection camps are some of the activities that Lupin has been conducting in order to generate TB awareness and educate the masses on issues and implications related to TB.
About Lupin
Lupin Limited is one of India’s largest manufacturers of bulk actives and formulations. The principal therapeutic focus areas include anti-TB, Cephalosporins (anti-infectives) N-SAIDs and Cardiovasculars.
Lupin is a national leader in anti-TB with a market share of 43.4 per cent. It is one of the leading global manufacturers of Rifampicin (through the complex fermentation process) and the largest manufacturer of Ethambutol. Lupin’s Rifampicin plant is one of only three plants in the world to receive a USFDA certification. Lupin’s formulation and bulk manufacturing plants are based in Bhopal, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Lupin has also established a world-class R&D facility in Pune.
Author: Anonymous
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