Company Watch

Zydus Cadila files IND application for NME - ZYH2

Our News bureau - Mumbai

Zydus Cadila has filed another IND (Investigational New Drug) application for the New Molecular Entity (NME)— ZYH2 with the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). The novel agent for treating diabetes has been designed and developed by Zydus Research Centre, the research wing of Zydus Cadila. With this filing, Zydus Cadila has filed three INDs - ZYH1, ZYH and ZYH2. The NME - ZYH1 has now entered Phase II clinical trials.

`ZY H2', has displayed a unique profile in pre-clinical studies. The NME has the potential to improve insulin resistance and lower blood glucose in diabetic conditions without causing hypoglycemia. It also works favourably to lower the elevated lipid levels.

It is estimated that there are 30 to 33 million diabetics in India now, and every fourth diabetic in the world, today, is an Indian. Indians are genetically more susceptible to diabetes, and the World Health Organization predicts the number of diabetics in India would go up to 40 million by 2010 and 74 million by 2025, making it the diabetes capital of the world.

In recent times, glitazones (rosiglitazone and pioglitazone) have been launched to treat increasing prevalence of insulin resistance in Type - II diabetes. The pre-clinical studies on ZYH2 indicate that this NME may be more effective for diabetics by improving insulin resistance and lowering blood glucose levels without causing hypoglycemia and in also controlling the elevated tryglycerides level which are commonly found in such patients and may require special intervention.