Pharmaceutical and life sciences major, Novartis India will market Exelon, a drug for Alzheimer's disease from November.
This was announced by Ranjit Shahani, chief executive officer, Healthcare, Novartis India at a press conference held here yesterday.
Alzheimer's is a progressive, degenerative disease that affects the brain, causing impaired memory and behaviour
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Affected persons become increasingly dependent on their families for every need including the most basic needs, like eating, washing and dressing.
World-wide, nearly 10 per cent of the population above the age of 65, is said to have the disease, while in India the incidence is said to be lower.
0.5 per cent of the six crore persons aged above 60 are estimated to be suffering from this disease.
Novartis has secured approval to import Exelon to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's.
The formulation was launched last year by the parent firm, Novartis AG in the European market. Exelon is yet to be launched in the United States where it is awaiting FDA approval.
The two other companies involved in the manufacture of Alzheimer-dedicated formulations world-wide are Pfizer and Parke-Davis, which make Tacrine and Donepazil, respectively.
The cost of the treatment will be Rs 150 a day at the rate of two tablets of Exelon every day
The price has been arrived at after factoring in import duty at 42 per cent.
Speaking at the conference, Peter J Whitehouse, medical expert on Alzheimer's said, "if you live till the age of 80, chances of contracting the disease are one in 2.
Women are at a greater risk than men especially if they are prescribed estrogen. You are at risk even if you have suffered from a head injury, or if someone in your family has it."
Tested on 3000 patients internationally, Exelon has yet to undergo clincal trial in India.
"We have a database of clinical trials ;which were undertaken world-wide, and this database has been examined by a group of experts in India, including doctors based on which we have secured approval," said K G Ananthakrishnan, general manager, marketing and sales, Novartis India.