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| Sunday, 28 March 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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New drug for rheumatoid arthritis and SLE patients Rheumatoid Arthritis is frequently insidious and the principal symptoms are pain and stiffness, mainly of peripheral joints, with associated swelling. SLE or systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a chronic inflammatory, auto immune disorder that may affect multiple organ systems, in particular the skin, joints and Vasculature. Ipca Laboratories Ltd. India, have introduced a drug to benefit Rheumatoid Arthritis and SLE patients. The drug Hydroxychloroquinesulfate tablet under the brand name of HCQS was launched recently for the first time in Sri Lanka, through the local agent Emar Pharma (Pvt) Ltd, a leading pharmaceutical and diagnostics company. Although this drug is introduced recently in Sri Lanka, Hydroxychloroquinesulfate has been available throughout the world for the past 40 years, and its therapeutic value is well accepted by the rheumatologists and the skin specialists world over. Hydroxychloroquine belongs to a class of drugs known as, DMARD's (Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatic Drugs) DMARD's have the potential to reduce or prevent joint damage, preserve joint integrity and function, and ultimately reduce the total costs of health care and maintain economic productivity of the patient with RA. All patients with RA are candidates for DMARD therapy. Although NSAIDS, and Glucocorticoids may alleviate symptoms, joint damage may continue to occur and to progress. There are several drugs available in this class but, among the DMARD's on which the patient can be started at the earliest, the safest happens to be Hydroxychloroquinesulfate. Chloroquine was popular among medical profession for the past so many decades. Chloroquine, however, appears to be more Retinotoxic and this probably accounts for the increasingly, frequent use of Hydroxychloroquinesulfate. Hydroxy Chloroquine has caused fewer cases of Retinopathy than has Chloroquine. Only 18 cases of Retinopathy have been reported in literature from 1960 to 1989. Since Hydroxy Chloroquine is well tolerated and requires no routine laboratory monitoring, Ophthalmologic examination is required only once in 12 months. Apart from RA, Hydroxy Chloroquine is widely and effectively used in all patients with either discoid or systemic lupus Erythematosus, and other skin disorders like Dermatomyositis, Sarcoidosis, Lichen Planus, Porphyria Cutanea Tarda, Polymorphic Light Eruption and Sjogrens Syndrome. It is used more frequently than Chloroquine because of its impressive safety records. The medical fraternity in Sri Lanka specially the Rheumatologists, and the skin specialists appreciated the effort of Ipca Laboratories and Emar Pharma to introduce a molecule like Hydroxychloroquinesulfate which will definitely improve their treatment standard. Ipca has been successfully marketing its products in Sri Lanka for the past 25 years and has to its credit some of the brand leaders like Tenolol, Clopact, Lisoril, Tenoric, Normax etc. The company has been a pioneer in introducing products like Clopact, Tenoric and now HCQS for the first time in Sri Lanka. |
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