India Launches First Indigenous Antibiotic

On 21st November 2024, India's first indigenous antibiotic – Nafithromycin – developed to fight drug-resistant infections, was launched.

Key Points

Indigenous Innovation: Nafithromycin, developed with support from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and brought to market by Wockhardt under the name Miqnaf, is the first antibiotic developed in India to combat Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
Targeting Pneumonia: It is designed to treat Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP), a severe illness caused by drug-resistant bacteria, particularly affecting vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.
Efficacy: Nafithromycin is ten times more effective than existing drugs like azithromycin and offers superior safety with minimal gastrointestinal side effects and no significant drug interactions. It is validated by clinical trials to work in just a three-day regimen.
Global Significance: This breakthrough marks the first new antibiotic in its class to be developed globally in over 30 years, addressing the rising global health crisis of AMR, which causes over two million deaths annually.
Development & Support: Developed over 14 years with Rs 500 crores in investment, Nafithromycin has undergone clinical trials in the U.S., Europe, and India. It has been supported by BIRAC and its Biotechnology Industry Partnership Program (BIPP).
Market Readiness: The drug is awaiting final approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) for manufacturing and public use.