Nafithromycin, India’s first indigenously developed antibiotic for resistant infections, showcases innovation through public-private collaboration

https://www.orfonline.org/research/first-in-thr...

First in three decades: Nafithromycin and India’s leap into novel drug development
India has been globally renowned as the “pharmacy of the world” for decades, as a supplier of low-cost generic drugs and vaccines. However, novel drug development in the country has remained largely unexplored. Nafithromycin, which is expected to be sold under the brand name Miqnaf in 2025, could be a tremendous shift. Developed indigenously by Wockhardt with critical support from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), it is India's first indigenously developed novel antibiotic for resistant infections. It will help address the global health emergency of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This antibiotic is targeted toward drug-resistant Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP) and is a medical breakthrough that says much about India's potential in pharmaceutical innovation
The science behind Nafithromycin
The clinical and practical superiority of Nafithromycin will make it more attractive to both practitioners and patients. The drug is tenfold superior to azithromycin in its ability and yields comparable results within the shortest regimen of just three days, improving patient compliance and outcomes considerably. Further, it can target both typical and atypical pathogens, including drug-resistant strains, which also shows its value as a first line of treatment against CABP.

The drug is tenfold superior to azithromycin in its ability and yields comparable results within the shortest regimen of just three days, improving patient compliance and outcomes considerably.

Safety is also quite apparent. Nafithromycin causes very few gastrointestinal side effects and has minor drug interactions, making it a safer bet for a large population pool. It was also found to be well-tolerated at all dosage levels with no serious or adverse events observed. This effectiveness and safety make Nafithromycin a global contender, especially considering that it is the first antibiotic of its class in over three decades. More than just clinical promise, it represents India's capability to produce world-class pharmaceutical ingenuity. Nafithromycin is an exception to the otherwise dismal trend of making derivative drugs of existing classes—calling attention to what is possible when public and private institutions collaborate to advance public interests.