Indian bio drug Avent to treat arthritis safe, says Avesthagen

Avent, a biotech drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis may soon be launched in India.

Developed by the leading Indian biotech firm Avesthagen, Avent has already completed studies to establish its efficacy and safety in humans.

Avent is Avesthagen’s own version of a fully humanised soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor.

Avent has come out successful in the pre-clinical efficacy studies, Avesthagen said.

When studied on mice Avent showed that the drug can effectively prevent the disease causing mechanism of arthritis.

Results from the study indicate that Avent is effective in arthritis and related  conditions.

Besides treating signs and symptoms in patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis Avent can be sued in reducing symptoms related to ankylosing spondylitis,plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Avesthagen Limited has started a contract manufacture agreement for two of its biosimilars at Inno Biologic’s Putra Nilai facilities in Malaysia.

Avesthagen’s second product Avdesp for anaemia has already completed preclinical studies and is ready for cGMP manufacturing for conducting clinical trials in India.

Avesthagen plans to launch Avdesp — –a therapeutically equivalent generic version of darbepoetin alfa biosimilar of Amgen’s Aranesp — in India by end of 2010.

The Bangalore-based Avesthagen has already been given clearance from the Review Committee for Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) based on the data and conclusions on toxicity and efficacy study of Avdesp submitted.

Arthritis is a joint disorder featuring inflammation. A joint is an area of the body where two different bones meet.

Arthritis literally means inflammation of one or more joints.Arthritis is frequently accompanied by joint pain.

There are many types of arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease, mainly characterized by inflammation of the lining of the joints. It can lead to long-term joint damage, resulting in chronic pain, loss of function and disability.

Rheumatoid arthritis can affect other organs in the body. Studies have shown that early aggressive treatment of RA can limit joint damage, which in turn limits loss of movement, decreased ability to work, higher medical costs and potential surgery.

The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. There is no cure for arthritis.

However, symptoms of arthritis can be controllrd through the use of new drugs, exercise, joint protection techniques and self-management techniques.