Mumbai-based pharma company Wockhardt ltd is planning to conduct phase II human trials for its anti-infective molecules in Europe from the beginning of the next quarter. Clinical trials in Europe would be required for the company to market the drug in Europe. The company has already begun phase II human trials for the same drug candidates WCK 771 and WCK 2349 at a few locations in India.
WCK 771 is a broad-spectrum antibiotic with proven efficacy in treating diverse infections that are otherwise difficult to manage with available anti-infective drugs. The other drug, WCK 2349, which is also under development, could be used as an oral pro drug. The market for anti-infective drugs in India is estimated to be around Rs 200 crore. The size of the global market is estimated to be over Rs 23,000 crore (approximately $520 million).
?The two molecules under development are likely to overcome the problem of resistance that current anti-infective drugs face. The company, also, has about five more molecules in anti-infective category at various stages of pre-clinical development within the country,? chairman Wockhardt ltd Habil Korakhiwala told FE.
The company recently informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that it plans to de-merge its R&D division for development of new chemical entities and value added patentable products. When asked about the investment in the new R&D unit, Korakhiwala said, ?The board still needs to discuss the investment? but maintained that Wockhardt would hold majority shares in the new entity. The company’s board will meet on January 18 to decide on the de-merger.
In the beginning of 2007, Mumbai-based Sun Pharma hived off its innovative research into a separate company into Sun Pharma Advanced Research Centre (SPARC), that was subsequently listed on the exchanges. Nicholas Piramal India Ltd in August 2007 de-merged its novel drug discovery research operations into a separate entity. Delhi-based Ranbaxy too has announced to de-merge its drug discovery research operation and would be listing it before 2008 end.