Pharma firm Ranbaxy Laboratories today said it has launched clinical trials for its anti-malaria drug Arterolanc maleate Piperaquine phospahate in three countries, including India.
In a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange, the company said "it has commenced the Phase-III clinical trials for its new anti-malaria combination drug in India, Bangladesh and Thailand.
"Our new anti-malaria drug, likely the first from India, will benefit patients immensely and provide more potent solution to developing nations where malaria is endemic," Chairman CEO and MD Malvinder Mohan Singh said.
The pharma major plans to market the drug in India, Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific.
"The drug is being developed as once a day therapy for three days and will improve patients compliance, besides being safe and efficacious," the filing said.
According to the World Health Organisation, estimated 250-300 million cases of malaria occur every year, mainly in developing countries causing about one million deaths.
Shares of Ranbaxy were trading at Rs 169.30, up 2.02 per cent in the late afternoon trade on the BSE.
