Nafithromycin: Country’s First Indigenous Antibiotic

Tags: Science and Technology

Nafithromycin: Country’s First Indigenous Antibiotic

Why in the news?

• After three decades of research and hard work, India has led the way with the creation ofNafithromycin, the country’s first indigenous Macrolide antibiotic.

What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) ?

• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines.
• As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability and death. 
• While AMR is a natural process driven by genetic changes in pathogens over time, its spread is significantly accelerated by human activities, particularly the overuse and misuse of antimicrobial drugs in humans, animals, and plants. 
• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a major global health issue, with around 6 lakh lives lost in India each year due to resistant infections.

 About Nafithromycin:

• Nafithromycin was officially launched on November 20, 2024, by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh. 
• Developed by Wockhardt with support from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), Nafithromycin, marketed as "Miqnaf," targets Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP) caused by drug-resistant bacteria, which disproportionately affects vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.

Important points:

• This groundbreaking antibiotic is ten times more effective than current treatments like azithromycin and offers a three-day treatment regimen, significantly shortening the recovery time while improving patient outcomes. 
• Nafithromycin is designed to treat both typical and atypical drug-resistant bacteria, making it a crucial tool in addressing the global health crisis of AMR (Anti-microbial Resistance).
•  It boasts superior safety, minimal side effects, and no significant drug interactions.
• Nafithromycin’s development marks a historic milestone as the first new antibiotic in its class to be introduced globally in over 30 years. 
• The drug, which has undergone extensive clinical trials across the U.S., Europe, and India, has been developed with an investment of Rs.500 crores and is now awaiting final approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).
• This innovation exemplifies the power of public-private collaboration and underscores India’s growing capabilities in biotechnology. 

Significance:

• Nafithromycin’s successful introduction represents a major leap in the fight against AMR, offering hope for treating multidrug-resistant infections and saving lives worldwide.
• This remarkable achievement marks a pivotal moment in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, showcasing India’s growing capabilities in pharmaceutical innovation.
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