Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited has announced the launch of a new therapy for skin disorders in India with the introduction of Tedizolid Phosphate tablets, marketed under the brand name “STARIZO.” STARIZO is a novel antibacterial agent belonging to the oxazolidinone class and is designed to treat Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSI). This launch follows Sun Pharma’s acquisition of rights from MSD to develop, manufacture, and commercialize Tedizolid Phosphate in India.
ABSSSIs, often caused by drug-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), pose significant treatment challenges due to the limited availability of effective options. Kirti Ganorkar, CEO of Sun Pharma’s India Business, emphasized the importance of this new therapy, stating, “With STARIZO, we are introducing a treatment option that is both effective and convenient with once-a-day dosing. At Sun Pharma, we are committed to introducing innovative medicines that improve the quality of life for patients.”
Skin and soft tissue infections are among the most common infections in India, accounting for 29-32% of all infections between 2018 and 2019. The treatment of ABSSSI is further complicated by comorbidities such as diabetes, obesity, and renal and hepatic dysfunction. The incidence of invasive S. aureus infections has increased over the past decades, contributing to poor outcomes and high mortality rates. MRSA, responsible for a significant proportion of ABSSSIs, has shown increasing resistance in India, with rates rising from 28.4% in 2016 to 42.6% in 2021.
STARIZO offers a more convenient treatment regimen compared to the current standard of care, which typically requires twice-daily dosing for 10-14 days. STARIZO is administered once daily for six days and has demonstrated efficacy against gram-positive organisms, including MRSA. The drug also provides the advantage of no required dose adjustment for elderly patients, those with hepatic or renal impairment, or patients on haemodialysis.
Tedizolid Phosphate is marketed in India under a licensing agreement with Merck Sharp & Dohme Singapore Trading Pte. Ltd.
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