Sun Pharma reveals sprinkling of good news, launches novel drug product
The product has a patented drug delivery system, which sees each capsule of metropolol succinate contain a number of pellets. Each pellet is designed to deliver a continuous, slow-release of the drug.
Metrolpolol succinate is used for the treatment of hypertension, angina pectoris or heart failure, and has been designed for patients who have difficulty swallowing standard formulation medication.
A spokesperson for Sun Pharma, an India-based generics company, stated that the capsules can be opened and the contents sprinkled onto soft food, such as apple sauce or yoghurt, to enable patients to swallow the medicine alongside food.
In addition, the spokesperson noted that the medication holds the advantage of not requiring crushing for delivery, preventing trace medication left behind.
Explaining the rationale behind this type of drug delivery, CEO of Sun Pharma, North America, Abhay Gandhi stated: “Roughly 40% of patients requiring long-term care have difficulty swallowing, a problem that may result in patient non-adherence to medications as well as medication errors”.
Sun Pharma is the first to create an extended-release medication of this form of medicine and holds a patent on its particular delivery method until July 2035.
Sunlight through the clouds
The brighter news for the company comes after it began the year with a set of manufacturing setbacks.
In February of this year, its facility in Gujarat was hit by a fire and widespread local coverage followed, though the company stressed that no loss of production occurred.
This was shortly followed by a Form 483 for its plant based in Halol, after an inspection by the US Food and Drug Administration made three observations that needed to be rectified – though this was eventually lifted in June of this year.
