Breakthroughs by India in the Fight Against the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
Brief Overview of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR):
- AMR stands for Antimicrobial Resistance, which occurs when the pathogen becomes resistant to antibiotics and is responsible for making it difficult to cure infections, increasing the chances of mortality, morbidity, and catastrophe.
- AMR in India: India contributes to 6 lakh lives lost every year due to resistant infections, ringing an alarm bell for seeking the correct answers.
- Nafithromycin-the First Indigenous Antibiotic in the Country:
- Nafithromycin is India’s first indigenous Macrolide antibiotic, developed after three decades of research.
- Targeted Treatment: Mainly focusing on Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP), caused by drug-resistant organisms.
- Developed By: Wockhardt, under the funding of Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) within the scope of the Biotech Industry Program.
- Clinical Trials: Phase 3 clinical trials happen with ₹8 crores found, developed with an outlay of ₹500 crores.
- Approval Status: Waiting for the final approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).
Key Benefits for Nafithromycin:
- Ten Times More Effective: 10 times more potent than the existing antibiotics like Azithromycin.
- Shortened Treatment Duration: Offers a high range treatment of three days, significantly shortening the time of recovery.
- Superior Safety Profile: Has minimal side effects and no major drug interactions.
- Dual Action: Treats both typical- and atypical drug-resistant bacteria.
- Target Population: Specially useful for children, the elderly, and people with comorbidities.
