IPCA Laboratories Has Introduced a New Molecule Called “Diulcus” to Help Treat Diabetic Foot Ulcers. India has around 76.2 million diabetics, with an additional 136 million people in the pre-diabetic stage. And India has the world’s second-highest number of diabetic sufferers. Almost 10% of people suffer from diabetic foot ulcers and hyperglycemic conditions. And this wound is really difficult to treat. The majority of the elderly suffer from this condition, so IPCA Labs took the initiative and launched ‘DiUlcus’.
What happens is that even after treatment, this wound keeps opening and sometimes becomes infected, and there were no appropriate treatments available. Today, Novalead Pharma invested money and, with the help of BIRAC, developed this product.
The new medicine will be available in Indian pharmacies starting next week, with a focus on western and southern areas. Diulcer will be marketed as an ointment gel for commercial use at a price of Rs 1,635 per 15-gram container.
This medicine contains a large number of imported chemicals, and the sterilization process is very sophisticated, which is why the drug is expensive,” Meanwhile, the government subsidises 20% of total medicine costs to make them more accessible.
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The company also intends to commercialize the device in Europe, the United States, and Japan. NovaLead Pharma has already secured a global patent for Diulcus for more than 15 years, with Ipca investing Rs 13 crore to acquire the drug’s distribution and marketing license.
This is an unmet need in the country, as there is currently no treatment for diabetic ulcers,” Jain stated. “Until now, doctors have been treating the wound by addressing the ulcer, but there was nothing available for complete closure.”
Explaining the significance of the new treatment, Jain stated that 80% of amputations (removal of an infected limb or body part with a tumor) in the country are due to wounds caused by diabetic ulcers, making the drug even more crucial at home. “With over 15% of diabetic individuals experiencing DFU at least once in their lifetime, this disorder is the leading cause of lower limb amputations globally.
The ointment will be used to treat ulcer ulcers produced by uncontrolled diabetes, which is common throughout all age groups today. According to the company’s press release, Diulcus has an ulcer closure rate of more than 77% over six months, implying that the gel takes six months to treat 77% of a lesion. In three months, the medication can treat more than 30%.
Diulcus has previously been approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization and is partially financed by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council.
The new medicine will be administered based on the status of the ulcer. If the wound is not infected, the ointment can be applied immediately. However, if the wound has become infected, the ointment should only be administered after the infection has been treated, according to NovaLead Pharma CEO Supreet Deshpande.
When asked about Ipca Laboratories’ primary areas of concentration, Jain stated that he will continue to prioritize pain management, rheumatoid arthritis, and anti-malaria medications.
