RANBAXY'S ANTIMALARIAL DRUG SHOWS PROMISE IN PHASE IIB TRIAL

Ranbaxy Laboratories and Medicines for Malaria Venture provided an update on the progress and clinical development strategy of a promising, new antimalarial drug, designated RBx 11160. RBx 11160 is entering into Phase IIb dose-range studies in India, Thailand and Africa after the successful completion of a Phase IIa proof-of-concept study.

As a totally synthetic antimalarial molecule, RBx 11160 could replace Artemisinin, a natural chemical derived from a scarce and expensive plant, because bulk production of RBx 11160 is expected to be faster and more economical compared with the existing, agriculture-based Artemisinin derivatives, currently grown in the fields of China. RBx 11160 will be combined with another long-acting drug, piperaquine phosphate (PQP), to comply with the current World Health Organization guidelines for development of new antimalarial compounds.