Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Tuesday, Jan 21, 2003
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Tuesday, Jan 21, 2003 |
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Corporate
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Announcements Industry & Economy - Health NPIL to replace nimesulide with `Vah' P.T. Jyothi Datta
NEW DELHI, Jan. 20 EVEN as the debate goes back and forth on the use of nimesulide, a popular fever drug, Nicholas Piramal India Ltd has decided to phase out its version of the drug, Orthobid and replace it with Vah (Valdecoxib), touted to be a "better drug with less side-effects". Nimesulide, a non-steroid anti-inflammatory analgesic, had been put under a scanner by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) following concerns raised by the medical community on the safety of the drug, particularly when administered to children. Following the note of caution, sounded by regulatory authorities in other countries, a section of the medical community in India too voiced its concern on paediatric use leading to liver toxicity. That the DCGI is reported to have cleared the use of the drug in adults and paediatric use is something that the medical fraternity is not willing to endorse. Other companies that have nimesulide in their product portfolio include Panacea Biotec, with its popular Nimulid and Dr Reddy's Nise, among others. However, the controversy around the drug had nothing to do with NPIL's decision to replace its brand of Nimesulide with a more efficacious drug, NPIL top-brass told Business Line. "We are constantly on the look out for better drugs that have less side-effects and the launch of Vah, about two months ago is part of that exercise." Orthobid, an estimated Rs 6 crore brand, was never recommended for paediatric use, the official further pointed out. And if the existing confusion was not worrying enough, earlier this month, a forum called the Indian Academy of Paediatrics wrote to the DCGI stating that nimesulide was "as safe or unsafe as other anti-pyretic drugs".
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