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New inhaler to result in 40% cost saving: Cipla

2008-03-24 11:00:25 Source : CNBC-TV18

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Cipla is set to launch the world's first triple drug combination inhaler for COPD patients in India. Cipla's brand, Triohale will have triotropium, formoterol and ciclesonide for asthma patients. The company is in the process of registering the drug for exports to semi-regulated markets. The inhaler drug would cost Rs 570 per 120-metered doses in India.

Amar Lulla, MD, Cipla said that patients will save about 40% as against buying the single component drug, this apart from not have to remember which one he has taken and which one he has not. Lulla added that the inhaler will be available in the market from this week.

Excerpts of CNBC-TV18�s exclusive interview with Amar Lulla:

Q: What sort of revenue generation do you see from this drug?

A: This is a combination of three drugs that are available singly. This is for the treatment of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), which is a multi-component disease and has to be treated with three drugs simultaneously. We had launched the three component drugs in a single MDI (Metered Dose Inhalers). Now we have put them together and for patient compliance and patient benefit, we have put it together and called it trio health.

This is the first time anyone has put these three drugs together in one meter dose inhaler. So, it�s a great benefit for patients. The market that we are addressing is, essentially it will take away the users of three single MDIs to one.

Q: What sort of cost benefit would it actually entail for the patient?

A: The patient will save about 40% as against buying the single component drug, apart from the fact that he doesn�t need to keep three inhalers and not have to remember which one he has take or not taken. So, in terms of patient compliance, it�s a big boom.

Q: When is the launch exactly?

A: It will be available in the market this week.

Q: What kind of export potential does it have? Earlier when we spoke you said it will be huge, can you give us some kind of a number?

A: COPD is a massive problem around the world. It is either due to smoking in many parts of the world than due to non-smoking. In India, there is a lot of smoke due to chullas and due to cooking within the houses where the smoke gets into the lungs. So, this problem is difficult to manage. Generally it results in a fatal condition after a few years of continued COPD.

So, the market for this around the world is quite large because COPD is a condition that needs to be managed, particularly for those who are either into mining or smoking or in polluted areas.

Q: Out of these three drugs, Tiotropium, Formoterol and Ciclesonide, are any of these three part of the price control right now?

A: No.

Q: You have been perennially haunted by the NPPA (National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority). There is in fact, an additional notice of about Rs 60 crore odd. How are you going to tackle this? Earlier you had said that this amount is untenable. Will there be a change in the situation right now?

A: There is no change, the amount continues to be untenable. What the NPPA has done is they have slapped us with an interest on the amount that they are claiming. So, it is not a new claim in a sense of the word, but it�s an interest amount that they believe that they need to recover from us if the principal is payable.

The Allahabad High Court had earlier held that those notifications were void and not tenable and there were no claims against Cipla. The matter is right now with the Supreme Court and let us wait and see what the Supreme Court has to say.

Q: Any more of these breakthrough launches that we can expect from Cipla for this current year?

A: Our focus has been on patients. If you know, we were the pioneers in the AIDS drugs. We had put together three drugs in one, which was Triomune, which was really a path breaking treatment and that led to patient compliance improvement by a factor of about 56%. So, what happens is that once the drugs are put together, the compliance improves drastically and the management of the disease is much more efficient.

So, we have got various drugs that are called normal delivery systems, where you either make it convenient for the patient or make it available for a longer period in a sustained release form or available for children in more paediatrical accepted forms. So, this is an effort that continues to receive the highest priority in Cipla.