Bangalore, Jan 04, 2009: Ranbaxy Laboratories, India's largest pharmaceutical company by revenues, has launched a New Chemical Entity (NCE), Lulifin (Luliconazole), in the Indian Dermatology market.
This follows a strategic in-licensing agreement with Summit Pharmaceuticals International Corporation, Japan (SPI) allowing Ranbaxy, exclusive marketing rights, for India. The introduction of this NCE, significantly strengthens Ranbaxy’s presence in the Dermatological segment.
Commenting on the development, Mr. Sanjeev Dani, Sr. Vice President & Regional Director – Asia, CIS & Africa, Ranbaxy, said, “It is well recognized that in the post patent era, licensing would be the key strategy to bring New Chemical Entities to India. Dermatology is one of the top priority therapeutic areas for us and we are pleased to introduce Lulifin in the Indian market. We would be manufacturing the product in India under licence from SPI, Japan.”
Luliconazole was discovered by Nihon Nohyaku and was approved and launched in Japan in 2005. Based on SPI’s licensing know-how and strong network abroad, SPI in-licensed the rights for Luliconazole in certain territories from Nihon Nohyaku, to expand its reach in overseas markets. In India, SPI has entered into a licensing agreement with Ranbaxy to market the product exclusively.
Lulifin is a topical imidazole and is indicated for Cutaneous mycoses caused by Tinea pedis, Tinea corporis, Tinea cruris. Currently, topical imidazoles and allylamines are used for the treatment of Cutaneous mycoses with disadvantages like long duration of therapy, which leads to poor compliance and a high relapse rate.
Clinical trials conducted by Nihon Nohyaku with Pola Chemical Industries in Japan and by Ranbaxy, in India, confirm the at par efficacy with other topical imidazoles but with the added advantage of shorter therapy duration and once a day application. This greatly improves patient compliance with significantly better outcomes.
Ranbaxy already has a strong presence in the Dermatology market with products such as Zole-F, Minoz, Suncros, Fucidin and Teczine, among others.
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