Indian Drug Companies Develop Affordable Medicines for Rare Diseases, Cutting Treatment Costs by 100 Times
New Delhi: In a remarkable achievement, Indian drug companies, with the support of government agencies, have successfully developed medicines for four rare diseases in just one year, significantly reducing the cost of treatment. These diseases, most of which are genetic and affect children, have seen a staggering reduction in treatment expenses.
One such disease is Tyrosinemia type 1, which previously required an annual expenditure of Rs 2.2 crore to Rs 6.5 crore. However, thanks to the newly developed drug called Nitisinone, the cost of treatment for the same duration has now been reduced to just Rs 2.5 lakh. If left untreated, this disease can be fatal for a child by the age of 10.
The other three rare diseases that have seen a significant reduction in treatment costs are Gaucher’s Disease, Wilson’s Disease, and Dravet/Lennox Gastaut Syndrome. Gaucher’s Disease, which causes liver or spleen enlargement, bone pain, and fatigue, previously costed Rs 1.8-3.6 crore per year for treatment. However, with the introduction of Eliglustat capsules, the cost has been reduced to Rs 3.6 lakh per year. Similarly, Wilson’s Disease, characterized by copper deposits in the liver and psychiatric symptoms, now costs Rs 2.2 lakh per year with Trientine capsules, as opposed to the previous cost of Rs 2.2 crore. Lastly, for Dravet Syndrome, which leads to complex seizure syndromes, the cost has been reduced from Rs 7-34 lakh per year to Rs 1-5 lakh with the use of Cannabidiol oral solution.
India has a significant number of rare disease patients, ranging from 8.4 crore to 10 crore. Approximately 80% of these diseases are genetic, making early diagnosis and treatment crucial. The development of medicines for these rare diseases is a significant step forward in providing affordable healthcare to patients.
Several companies, including Biophore India Pvt. Ltd. (Zenara Pharma), Laurus Labs Ltd, MSN Pharmaceuticals, and Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals, have been working on medicines for 13 types of rare diseases. While medicines for the four aforementioned diseases have already been developed, there are plans to develop medicines for the remaining diseases soon. Additionally, there is a proposal to distribute these medicines to Jan Aushadhi Centres, further increasing accessibility.
Other rare diseases, such as Phenylketonuria and Hyperammonemia, are also being targeted for the development of cost-effective medicines.
This groundbreaking achievement by Indian drug companies brings hope to millions of patients suffering from rare diseases, ensuring that they can receive the necessary treatment without the burden of exorbitant costs.
Note: This news article has been rewritten and may not represent the original content accurately.
