ActiPatch, a drug free pain management device launched in India by Piramal

Piramal Healthcare Ltd has launched a bioelectronics product, ActiPatch, for pain management in India.

ActiPatch is the product of the US-based BioElectronics Corporation, a maker of anti-inflammatory medical devices and patches.

ActiPatch utilises Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Frequency (PEMF) to accelerate healing of soft tissue injuries. It does not use drugs. The medical device has got an embedded battery operated microchip. ActiPatch delivers weeks of continuous pulsed therapy.

Patients suffering from pain and swelling in conditions such as lower back pain, sports and work injuries, ankle sprain, tennis elbow, all kinds of sprains and strains and inflammation can benefit from ActiPatch, claims the company.

ActiPatch is available in four different ranges – for back pain therapy, knee pain therapy, foot and ankle pain therapy and for wrist pain therapy. The range for back pain and knee pain therapy works for maximum 720 hours and that of foot and ankle and the wrist pain therapy has a working time of 360 hours.

ActiPatch is marketed as an over the counter product worldwide, In India ActiPatch will be marketed under prescription and will initially be launched in tier-1 cities, informed Swati Piramal, director, Piramal healthcare Ltd. ActiPatch will cost Rs 1600 per kit in India.

“With our current product portfolio of almost eight to nine top brand drugs in pain management, the product fits nicely into our line of operations. We have set a target of Rs 5 crore sales for the product in India initially. The product will be launched in tier two cities in next three to four months,” said Piramal.

Piramal Healthcare will also conduct a post marketing study in India through 200 orthopaedic specialists in 1400 patients to analyse the needs of the market and the efficacy of the product in Indian patients.

ActiPatch has proven to accelerate healing for patients by 30 to 50 per cent in US. According to the American Chronic Pain Association, pain is the number one cause of adult disability. The Indian Pain Management market is valued at Rs. 3000 crore with around 1.5 lakh patients on some form of pain management therapy everyday.

ActiPatch is targeting the Indian pain management market valued at Rs 3000 crore with around 1.5 lakh patients on some form of pain management therapy everyday. The daily cost for the therapy would be around Rs 53 when compared to Rs 150 per day for the cost of physiotherapy done in clinics, added Piramal.

Piramal health may also look into extending the tie up with BioElectronics Corporation to market its another major brand Recovery Rx in India, once the market for ActiPatch is established.

Piramal Healthcare Ltd, a Piramal Group company, is one of India’s largest pharma companies with a growth track record of above 29 per cent compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) since 1988. The company had consolidated revenues of USD 656 million in Financial Year 2009 and is currently ranked fourth in the Indian market with a diverse product portfolio spanning 14 therapeutic areas.

BioElectronics Corporation is the maker of ActiPatch Therapy, RecoveryRx Devices, HealFast Therapy and Allay family of inexpensive, disposable drug-free anti-inflammatory devices. These devices utilize embedded battery operated microchips to deliver weeks of home therapy for only about a dollar a day. The unique delivery system, using patented technology, provides a cost effective patient friendly method to reduce soft tissue pain and swelling. ActiPatch is approved by health Canada for the relief of pain and musculoskeletal complaints. The US government food and drug administration (FDA) has cleared the use of the product for reducing edema (swelling) following blepharoplasty and the European Union has approved the product as a Class II pulsed electromagnetic medical device as have numerous other international agencies.