Indian scientists develop novel drug delivery method to cut side effects of arthritis drug

Indian scientists have given a brand new lease of life to the arthritis medication sulfapyridine by using an progressive drug supply methodology to take away its unwanted side effects.

Sulfapyridine is the third oldest drug nonetheless in use within the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune inflammatory joint illness, in line with the researchers from Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab.

However, long run use of the drug ends in unwanted side effects resembling nausea or vomiting, rashes, dizziness, anxiousness and stomach ache, they mentioned.

“As the molecule has side effect due to its higher dose, we developed a formulation which can be delivered directly to the site of action and thus is safe,” mentioned Bhupinder Kapoor, Associate Professor, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, LPU, advised PTI.

In their examine revealed within the peer-reviewed journal ‘Materials Science and Engineering C’, the researchers reported growing a prodrug of sulfapyridine after which included it into an progressive supply system.

The prodrug exhibited higher retention in liposomes, as in comparison with the drug, thus lowering the signs of irritation.

Liposomes are spherical vesicles having not less than one lipid bilayer that are used as a automobile for administration of pharmaceutical medication.

The prodrug therapy is run by injecting the affected space of the affected person, and never via oral consumption, in line with the researchers.

This implies that the remedy solely stays within the affected space, with out spreading to the remainder of the physique, they mentioned.

The analysis group, together with Kapoor, Monica Gulati and Sachin Ok. Singh from LPU, efficiently carried out the pre-clinical trials in addition to the testing of the drug supply mechanism.

“We conducted a study to understand the efficacy of sulfapyridine-derived liposomes. In arthritic rats, prodrug liposomes were found to reverse the symptoms of inflammation, including the levels of biochemical markers,” Kapoor defined.

“Therefore, liposomes of bio-responsive prodrugs offer a revolutionary approach in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis,” he mentioned.

The examine was carried in collaboration with researchers at Fortis Hospital, Ludhiana & JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty, Tamil Nadu.

Calling the outcomes of the examine as “promising”, Dr. Arup Kumar Banerjee from North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri, West Bengal famous that prodrugs are compounds, or a by-product of a drug, that themselves are pharmacologically inactive however after administration get metabolised within the physique into its energetic type.

“Prodrug form increases the bioavailability of the actual drug by defying metabolism in site other than the intended one and also decreases the adverse side effect by selective absorption or metabolism at the target cells or organs,” Banerjee, who was not concerned within the examine, advised PTI.

Around 10 per cent of all medication getting used at this time are administered within the physique in prodrug type, he added.

At current sulfapyridine is used within the type of sulfasalazine which is really useful orally in excessive dose and has few unwanted side effects on account of publicity to nontarget websites, the researchers mentioned.

For the profitable retention of the drug on the injection web site, they synthesised its lipophilic prodrug which is retained within the injection web site for an extended time interval and required in very low dose, subsequently has no unwanted side effects and dosing frequency can also be very much less.

As sulfapyridine is just not an acceptable molecule on account of poor solubility, the researchers synthesised its prodrug which could be retained in injection web site for an extended time interval, and subsequently is efficient in very low dose and with none aspect impact.

The researchers mentioned their prodrug will want approval for gross sales and advertising and marketing from India’s drug regulatory physique.

The group has filed for a patent, and the pre-evaluation section is now full. They are additionally making use of for a global patent for this new drug supply methodology.

(This story has been revealed from a wire company feed with out modifications to the textual content.)

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