HYDROXYUREA
- SCI & TECH
News:
ICMR seeks to provide oral formulation of hydroxyurea to
treat sickle cell disease in children
What's
in the news?
●
The
Indian Council of Medical Research
(ICMR) has invited Expressions of Interest (EoI) from eligible
organizations for the “joint development and commercialisation” of low dose or
pediatric oral formulation of hydroxyurea to treat sickle cell disease in
India.
Key
takeaways:
●
India has the highest prevalence of sickle cell disease
in South Asia, and over
20 million sickle cell affected individuals reside in the country.
●
While
most pharmaceutical companies in India market 500 mg capsules or 200 mg tablets
of hydroxyurea, the biggest challenge in treatment is that it’s not available
in the suspension form for effective use in the case of pediatric patients, the
ICMR said.
Hydroxyurea
in Sickle Cell Disease:
●
Hydroxyurea
is a myelosuppressive agent, is an
effective drug for treating patients of sickle cell disease, and thalassemia as
it keeps blood cells round and flexible,
so as to ensure easy flow and better delivery of oxygen to the body.
Function:
●
Hydroxyurea
helps the body make a type of hemoglobin
that helps keep red blood cells round.
●
So,
people who take hydroxyurea can have more energy, and less pain and anemia.
Need:
●
There
is a need for pediatric formulation of
HU (hydroxyurea), considering the alarming number of sickle cell disease
cases in India and in view of the launch of the National Mission to eliminate
Sickle Cell Anaemia/SCD (by 2047)
Indian
Situations:
●
Most
pharmaceutical companies in India market 500 mg capsules or 200 mg tablets of
Hydroxyurea while the prescribed dose in children is 10-15 mg per kilogram of
body weight after two years of age.
National
Health Mission’s Guidelines:
●
As
per it, the healthcare providers initiate
hydroxyurea therapy to only symptomatic sickle cell disease patients among
children both because of the lack of availability of pediatric doses as
well as the fear of toxicity.