Wockhardt Chairman Dr Habil Khorakiwala conferred with BIRAC Innovator Award 2024

Written By :  Ruchika Sharma
Medically Reviewed By :  Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli
Published On 2024-09-18 07:37 GMT   |   Update On 2024-09-18 07:37 GMT
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Mumbai: Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a Government of India enterprise, conferred the "BIRAC Innovator Award 2024" to Wockhardt's Chairman, Dr. Habil Khorakiwala.

On his behalf, the award was received by the inventor, Dr. Mahesh Patel (Chief Scientific Officer - Drug Discovery Research) during “Global Bio – India 2024” event held in New Delhi. The award is in recognition of the highest level of innovation and research that led to successful development of Nafithromycin (Miqnaf), which is the multi-drug resistant pathogen active respiratory antibiotic for the treatment of Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia.

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Miqnaf(Nafithromycin) fulfils major unmet medical need as existing treatment based on Azithromycin and Amoxicillin + Clavulanic acid have either developed resistance in contemporary respiratory pathogens or lack the coverage of entire range of respiratory pathogens involved in Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia.

As a result, many of these patients need to be hospitalized due to limitations of current treatment options. With once-a-day, ultra-short, 3 daycourse of oral treatment, Miqnaf (Nafithromycin) would obviate the need of hospitalization for many such patients. Discovery and development of Nafithromycin at Wockhardt spanned over 12 years and involved several Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical studies which were conducted in USA and Europe.

Nafithromycin has successfully completed Phase III clinical trial in India and is awaiting DCGI approval. Globally, for the 1st time in 33 years, a new macrolide drug in the form of Miqnaf (Nafithromycin) has been developed to treat millions of community respiratory infections through a convenient home-based oral monotherapy.

Community Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia is one of the highest disease burden globally and in India, responsible for high mortality, morbidity and hospitalization, particularly in children and older agepatients. India accounts for 23% of the global burden of pneumonia. The annual incidence of Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia in India is estimated to be 8-10 million infections. The currently available drugs to treat Community acquired bacterial pneumonia majorly are Azithromycin (>60% resistance) and Amoxicillin + Clavulanic which does not cover atypical respiratory pathogens. Notably, atypical respiratory pathogens are implicated in >30% of Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia infections.

Read also: CDSCO Panel Approves Wockhardt's Protocol Amendment Proposal for antimicrobial drug Cefepime plus Zidebactam

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