India has launched its first indigenous antibiotic, Nafithromycin, to fight drug-resistant infections. Developed by researchers at the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a unit of the Department of Biotechnology, this new drug marks a significant step in addressing antimicrobial resistance.

Nafithromycin, a new antibiotic for treating drug-resistant community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) in adults, will soon be available under the brand name "Miqnaf." It will be distributed by the Mumbai-based pharmaceutical company, Wolkardt.

In the global effort to develop new antibiotics and antifungals, India has taken a major step forward with the soft launch of Nafithromycin. This new drug aims to combat the growing threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), often called the "silent pandemic."

Every year Drug-resistant pneumonia causes over two million deaths globally. India, which has 23% of the world's pneumonia cases, faces treatment challenges due to rising resistance to drugs like azithromycin. Azithromycin has been the main treatment for pneumonia, given to adults in a 500mg dose for three to ten days, with higher doses for more severe cases.

However, due to its high resistance nature, the drug failed to work on my patients. However, the introduction of Nafithromycin has given many a new ray of hope, believing that it could provide "much-needed relief" against drug-resistant pathogens.

What is Nafithromycin

Nafithromycin is the first new antibiotic in its class to be developed globally in over 30 years. This innovative semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic is designed to target multiple drug-resistant bacteria.

Its key advantage is a short, once-daily, three-day treatment, thanks to its ability to stay in the lungs for an extended time. This comes at a critical moment when antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is becoming a global health emergency, with very few new treatment options available.

Nafithromycin works 10 times more effectively and provides eight times higher lung exposure than azithromycin. It gives superior safety and tolerability, with a clinical cure rate of 96.7%.The drug was developed in India after 14 years of research and study. An investment of 500 crore was made to design this drug, which can combat multidrug-resistant pathogens.

How it works

Nafithromycin stands out for its ability to target both typical and atypical bacteria, overcoming resistance that has limited the effectiveness of other antibiotics. Clinical trials in the US, Europe, and India have shown that it is ten times more effective than azithromycin, requiring only a three-day treatment.

It is also highly safe, with few side effects, no major drug interactions, and can be taken with or without food, making it a convenient and patient-friendly option.

This new solution will tackle the global issue of excessive antibiotic prescriptions and could provide relief for India: the world’s largest consumer of these drugs. A recent survey reflects that poor-quality prescriptions and over-the-counter availability drive India’s high antibiotic consumption.