Zydus Alidac launches Bonmax

Mumbai: Zydus Alidac, the speciality arm of Zydus Cadila, has launched Bonmax (Hydrochloride is its bulk drug name), used in the prevention and treatment of post-menopausal osteoporosis (PMO).

PMO primarily occurs due to the deficiency of the oestrogen hormone during the menopausal period in a woman, which usually sets in between 45 to 55 years. This disease is characterised by loss of bone mass, thus making bones very fragile thereby increasing the risk of fractures.

In India, PMO affects at least one out of every three menopausal women. It is aptly termed a silent killer, as 30 per cent of bone mass is already lost by the time it is detected. If not prevented osteoporosis leads to fractures, mainly of the hip, spine and wrists, and could disable women for life.

In fact every woman above the age of 50 is highly susceptible and faces the risk of a broken bone due to osteoporosis. The number of osteoporotic fractures in post- menopausal women far outnumber the incidence of breast cancers, strokes and heart attacks put together, a company statement issued here said.

Raloxifene comes to India with an international experience of around four years. There are more than 10 million users of the drug in the US alone. With life expectancy of women in India on the rise, a safe and efficacious therapy can play a critical role in ensuring a healthier and graceful post-menopausal life. Zydus Alidacs range of women healthcare products includes Globac-PM and Gravidin, among others.

In the meantime, another domestic company, Ajanta Pharma, has also launched its first new drug delivery system, Nimlodi, for rheumatic arthritis, and is in controlled release from as once-a-day preparation. A company statement issued here said the company has achieved a turnover of Rs 15.21 crore for the quarter ended 30 September 2001, showing a growth of 15 per cent over the previous quarter. The profit-after-tax for the quarter has also gone up to Rs 3.4 crore as against Rs 0.8 crore in the previous quarter.