The Health care industry is an essential pillar in a country’s development. The last few decades have witnessed significant developments in the Indian pharma landscape with major technological advancements. One such addition has been that of Fixed-dose combinations. More than one drug is often used to treat single or multiple comorbid conditions. Sometimes, two or more drugs are combined in a fixed ratio into a single dosage form, termed fixed-dose combinations (FDCs). They were introduced into the market to prolong the patent life of one or more active ingredients within the FDCs. Paramjit Arora’s Health Biotech is one of the top pharma manufacturers leading the research on FDCs.
The FDCs can be classified as good and bad based on the rationality of availability. The ones formulated with the sole objective of marketing and don’t contribute to the therapeutic usefulness are bad FDCs, and their justification is certainly debatable. At times the combination of two or more drugs might not actually be needed by the patient, and he might become susceptible to undesired effects. Sometimes, the drug has to be individualized based on the patient’s response, but that is not possible with FDCs. The principle behind FDCs is to provide the benefit of synergistic effects of the two medicinal products given together. They have been helpful in the treatment of diseases like HIV, tuberculosis, and Malaria. Fixed dose combinations offer advantages such as an increase in the success rate, simpler logistics, and reduced costs.
Health Biotech, a leading player in the Indian Pharma industry, strives to push the healthcare sector forward by creating an expansive portfolio of product capabilities, technologies, and global healthcare expertise. It is empowered by a passionate R&D team. Commenting on the fixed-dose combination and its challenges, Paramjit Arora, Health Biotech director says, “Research and development is an essential aspect of our business strategies that provides a long-term advantage. Dedicated teams of highly qualified scientists and professionals at Health Biotech are engaged in path-breaking research on Safe fixed-dose combinations.”
Wrongful administration of FDCs can lead to unfortunate outputs. Some unsuitable combinations include cough syrups having two or more antihistamines + decongestant + bronchodilator + cough suppressant + antibiotic + steroid +expectorant and antifungal + topical local anaesthetic. The domestic pharma market of India has become the world leader in FDCs. The estimated number of FDCs in India exceeds 6000. The existence of so many brands of FDCs with different permutations and combinations generates confusion rather than guiding the prescribing doctor.
To prevent the unregulated use of FDCs in India, a multistep approach involving consumers, physicians, regulatory authorities, and academicians is needed. The regulators must strengthen the enforcement mechanism. The Central and State regulators must systemize their procedures for licensing FDCs. Ensuring good pharmacovigilance to assess the performance of the product in clinical practice should be a top priority. The National Formulary of India, the National List of Essential Medicines, and Standard Treatment Guidelines should be adopted across different levels of health services.
