There is good news for those suffering from skin ailments such as psoriasis and eczema: the University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS),Panjab University,has come out with a new medicine. It was formulated by a group of researchers,including two professors who worked as principal investigator and co-investigator and 10 research scholars for over five years. After successful clinical trials at PGIMER,the medicine has been recently test launched by a Gurgaon-based pharmaceutical company and would be soon formally launched for commercial application. With the help of technology by which drug molecules were hosted within the nano-structured lipoidal carrier systems,a desired delivery to the diseased site of psoriasis and other skin diseases like eczema was achieved. The invention involves an age-old drug,coal tar,which,though is being used as a medicine for more than a century,is still plagued by several problems of acceptance such as high cost,staining,irritation,stability,etc, said Dr O P Katare,who worked as principal investigator on this research. Dr Katare is a professor at UIPS and was also the former chairperson of this institute. He was assisted by Professor B S Bhoop who is the Dean,Alumni Relations,and a professor at the same department. The drug that the team developed is less expensive and more effective than others available in the market. PGIMER,Chandigarh,was also associated with this research as the clinical trials were successfully conducted at the Dermatology department here. Dr Bhushan Kumar,former head of the department,who was associated with the research for more than three years,said: This is a progressive research for the benefit of the mankind. The mode of delivery was far more effective and the medicine received good response as it was safe and affordable. Dr Kumar has worked with the Dermatology department at PGIMER for more than 30 years. The technology has been successfully transferred for commercialisation to Life Care Innovations Private Limited,a Gurgaon-based pharmaceutical company. Already,it has produced 10,000 units in the test launch,and a formal launch will take place this year. PU had filed patent for the research two years ago. The major benefit for the society is the cost factor. The existing medicine for these skin diseases cost around Rs 900; but the university brought down the cost of the medicine to Rs 380,and which will be further reduced to Rs 60 for a 10 gm tube a 14 times reduction in cost. It has been christened Lepotar S, said Prof Bhoop. The research has been a unique university-academia collaboration,which has brought the invention from concept level to commercialisation. This model,in fact,orients students to enhance their employability.
