Even while pricing issues, regulations and lack of direct evidences on benefits are still being debated, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL) is bullish on the four-in-one polypill slated for launch in the country this year. The company expects global clinical trials to commence during the second quarter and the product is expected to be launched globally in 2010. The polypill will contain an aspirin, a statin to lower blood pressure and two blood pressure drugs, which are widely used at present.
The local clinical trials for polypill were completed in July 2007 across 11 centres in the country. “The evidence from the clinical data is very strong. It is not an irrational combination and we have got solid clinical evidence with our data,” Raghu Cidambi, advisor, DRL, told FE.
Although the company filed patents, the pricing is likely to vary in other countries. “It is unique as it does not fall under any blockbuster category nor traditional drugs but a new molecule which would be made available to the needy at a cost of Rs 100 per month,” he said.
Meanwhile, the global clinical trial is expected to start in February 2008 in the University of Auckland. It would involve 600 people, from five continents. They would be drawn from New Zealand, India, Australia, Brazil, China, South Africa, the US and the UK.
