Ranbaxy bolsters dermatology portfolio by launching mycoses anti-fungal luliconazole (Lulifin) in India

Luliconazole (Lulifin), a topical anti-fungal to treat mycoses, has been launched in Indian market by Daiichi-Ranbaxy.

Luliconazole (Lulifin) has been brought to India through a strategic in-licensing agreement with Summit Pharmaceuticals International Corporation, Japan (SPI).

The partnership allows Ranbaxy to have exclusive marketing rights for Luliconazole (Lulifin) in India.

The introduction of Luliconazole (Lulifin) significantly strengthens Ranbaxy’s presence in the Dermatological segment.

“Dermatology is one of the top priority therapeutic areas for us and we are pleased to introduce Lulifin in the Indian market. We would be manufacturing the product in India under licence from SPI, Japan, stated Sanjeev Dani, senior vice president & regional director – Asia, CIS & Africa, Ranbaxy, said.

Ranbaxy already has a strong presence in the Dermatology market with products such as Zole-F, Minoz, Suncros, Fucidin and Teczine, among others.

Luliconazole was discovered by Nihon Nohyaku Co Ltd (Nihon Nohyaku) and was approved and launched in Japan in 2005.

SPI has in-licensed the rights for luliconazole in certain territories from Nihon Nohyaku, to expand its reach in overseas markets.

Lulifin is a topical imidazole and is indicated for cutaneous mycoses caused by Tinea pedis, Tinea corporis, Tinea cruris. Currently, topical imidazoles and allylamines are used for the treatment of Cutaneous mycoses with disadvantages like long duration of therapy, which leads to poor compliance and a high relapse rate.

In September, Ranbaxy launched Medi-Tox’ botulinum toxin-based anti-ageing drug Neuronox in India

Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd entered into an in-licensing agreement with South Korean firm Medy-Tox Inc for selling a cosmetic product Neuronox in India.

Neuronox is Medi-Tox’s new alternative brand of purified botulinum toxin type –A.

Neuronox is considered one of the effective anti-aging medicine derived from botulin toxin. The cosmetic use of botulinum toxin type- A in the correction of facial wrinkles and excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), has rapidly become one of the most popular cosmetic procedures worldwide.

Neuronox’ introduction is expected to strengthen Ranbaxy’s presence in the dermatological segment, said the company statement.

Ranbaxy, in which Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo owns about 64 percent, posted losses for the fifth straight quarter.

Ranbaxy’s sales in the US, the world’s largest drug market, also dropped 14 percent.

Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd reported net loss of 7.78 billion rupees ($156 million) in its fiscal first quarter ended March 2009, compared with a profit of 1.03 billion rupees in the year-ago quarter.

Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd also said it anticipated a loss of $150 million on sales of $1.4 billion in the year ending December 2009.

Ranbaxy’s sales in North America, which accounts for about 27 percent of Ranbaxy’s revenue, fell 7 percent to 4.04 billion rupees in the fourth quarter of financial year 2008-2009. Sales in the U.S. declined to 3.4 billion rupees. Ranbaxy also said sales dropped 14 percent in Europe, and gained 9 percent in India.

Ranbaxy reported 9.19 billion rupees as losses on foreign-currency options before tax. The company also wrote down the value of convertible bonds due 2011 as the Indian currency weakened 3.9 percent against the dollar in the three- month period, its fifth straight quarterly decline.

Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ranbaxy India has been recently selected by Validus Pharmaceuticals LLC as its marketing partner for  distributing an authorized generic version of calcitriol in both softgel capsules and an oral liquid formulation in US.