Novartis executive director and global head (CNS medical affairs) Dr Ravi Anand said that international placebo control trials for vascular dementia covering 900 patients in 13 countries would commence shortly. Recent studies have show that Exelon may be useful in treating patients suffering from vascular dementia.

Exelon is currently marketed in 66 countries and is expected to hit the US market in the first quarter of 2000. When treated with Exelon, 70 per cent of the patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease have show an improvement in agitation levels, 67 per cent of them have shown an improvement in depression, among other benefits. The drug also does not interact with other medications like antacids, anti-diabetic drugs or cardiovascular medications.

In India, Exelon costs Rs 68 per capsule, though this could be reduced if the product is granted life-saving drug status. Of the 60 million elderly Indians, 0.5 per cent are victims of Alzheimer's disease.

Meanwhile, Novartis India CEO (healthcare) Ranjit Shahani said that the company has just launched Simulect for the treatment of acute rejection of transplants in India. The product could be prescribed in combination with Sandimmun Neoral.

The company also expects to launch its anti-malarial drug, Co-arthemeter in 2000. The Swiss giant has completed phase three trials, which also covered 200 patients in India.