Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a growing public health concern across the world. AMR occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi become resistant to antimicrobial treatments to which they were previously susceptible.
The World Health Organization (WHO) lists AMR among the top 10 threats for global health. According to recent estimates, in 2019, 1.27 million deaths were directly attributed to drug-resistant infections globally. By 2050, up to 10 million deaths could occur annually.
A UN report revealed that According to recent estimates, in 2019, 1.27 million deaths were directly attributed to drug-resistant infections globally. By 2050, up to 10 million deaths could occur annually. Meanwhile, WHO maintains that AMR has significant costs for both health systems and national economies overall. Amid the rising innovative solutions to tackle the escalating threat of AMR the concern, companies like Orchid Pharma are brining in innovative solutions to tackle the escalating threat of AMR.
In an e-mail interaction with Financial Express.com, Rajnish Rohatgi, CEO, Orchid Pharma (Domestic Division) and he talked about global AMR crisis, lack of new antibiotics, company’s business growth plans, its role in the combat against AMR and more. Excerpts:
What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)? How is it a critical public health challenge in India?
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability and death. It contributes not only to mortality but also substantial economic loss. AMR is the third leading cause of death in India and about 4.95 million people have died in 2019 from drug resistant infections, of which 1.27 million was directly attributed to AMR. 1 in 5 of those deaths occurred among children under the age of 5.
What has been the role of Orchid Pharma in tackling AMR?
Orchid Pharma, under its new formulations division, Orchid AMS, is committed to helping address the public health issue of AMR, in multiple ways:
- Launch new molecules – starting with our own invention – Cefepime Enmetazobactam, which recently got approved by DGCI, India as well as by EMA and USFDA, followed by other new molecules.
- Ensuring ethical prescription promotion by educating clinicians on the challenges of AMR.
- Help prolong the life of existing drugs, through basket of products.
- Offer to help hospitals in setting up and implementing a robust Anti-microbial Stewardship program, including ways to make the dynamic data (on pathogen resistance to drugs), accessible to doctors, at the moment they have to take decisions at patient bedside.
What are your upcoming business growth plans? Are there any new product launches planned for FY 25?
Orchid AMS will launch in next 1-2 months, with a wide range of molecules, and plans to build out a team covering about 2500 to 3000 hospitals in the next 2-3 years.
You recently got Drugs Controller General of India’s approval for the manufacturing and marketing of its invented, made-in-India new chemical entity Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API), Enmetazobactam. What are your market expectations for the same?
Orchid Pharma intends to promote Enmetazobactam from a stewardship point of view, by educating clinicians on the appropriate use of the drug only in confirmed cased of complicated Urinary tract infections, Hospital acquired pneumonia and Ventilator associated pneumonia and associate bacteraemia
What is India’s current position in drug discovery and development? How is Orchid Pharma looking at this segment as a growth and business opportunity?
Drug discovery is an extremely complex, expensive and risky business, with very few of the possibilities being worked on resulting in a successful launch. Some Indian companies are investing to move up the value chain from generics to New Chemical Entities. Orchid is working on reviving its R&D strengths, but the need for confidentiality prevents us from sharing more details at this stage.
According to you, what should be the key priorities to deal with AMR? What are the challenges that India is facing wrt AMR? What more needs to be done?
Indian health authorities too developed a master plan named as the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial resistance (NAP-AMR) that outlines the necessary action steps:
- Improved awareness of AMR through effective communication
- Strengthening knowledge and evidence through surveillance
- Reducing the incidence of infection through effective infection prevention and control
- Optimizing the use of antimicrobial agents in health, animal and food.
- Promoting investments for AMR activities, research and innovations.
- Strengthening India’s commitment and collaborations on AMR at international, national and sub-national level
