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• British Medical Journal (BMJ) carried an article in 2003 discussing a concept like Polycap as primary prevention of heart diseases

• What was only a concept six years ago is today a reality with Cadila Pharmaceuticals taking a lead with its first-in-the-world Polycap

• Cadila Pharmaceuticals conducted pharmacokinetic study to show the effects of each of five drugs combined in Polycap; recognized by leading journals

• The silent killer, Cardiovascular Diseases take away precious lives in the age group of 45 years and above; the world was struggling to treat the cause, and prevention was never given a major focus 

• Dr Salim Yusuf, of McMaster University, Canada, world-renowned cardiologist and the man behind the HOPE & INTERHEART Trials led the team of researchers on The Indian Polycap Studies (TIPS) Trials

NEW DELHI, MAY 9, 2009: Ahmedabad based pharma major; Cadila Pharmaceuticals today unveiled facts of TIPS (The Indian Polycap Study) which eventually led to the development of world’s first Polycap for primary prevention of heart diseases. Dr. Salim Yusuf - the principal investigator for TIPS and internationally renowned cardiologist - was in India to shed light on new horizons in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) after Polycap at a Symposium.

Cardiovascular diseases, predominantly heart disease and stroke account for around 30% of all deaths around the world. A near-healthy person who is at risk of heart diseases would need to take more than 5-6 pills of different medications everyday for the rest of his life; something that puts immense burden on an individual. The Polycap offers a big psychological advantage to such individuals. Currently no drug is available to individuals who are at high risk for these illnesses as a means of primary prevention. 

PolycapTM is a combination of 3 common antihypertensive drugs along with aspirin and a statin (cholesterol lowering drug). PolycapTM has been tested in over 2000 subjects across 50 centers in India. According to “The Indian Polycap Study (TIPS)” published in The Lancet, PolycapTM is shown to bring down the risk of coronary heart disease by 62% and stroke by 48%.

Addressing media on the occasion of Polycap symposium, Mr. Indravadan Modi, Chairman of Cadila Pharmaceuticals Limited and doyen of Indian Pharmaceutical industry said that - “I have seen  the Indian Pharmaceutical Industry shaping up since independence. There was a time when even the Indian doctors were hesitant to prescribe medicines manufactured by Indian pharma company. Since then, the industry has come a long way. Polycap is the striking example. With Polycap, the new era for Indian Pharmaceutical industry has begun. Polycap has shown that the Indian Pharmaceutical Industry is now capable enough to offer “World’s First” kind of products. Research still is a challenge in our country  as recovery of cost remains under pressure due to socio-economic conditions and per capita affordability of the patient. It has been our commitment to make quality medicines affordable. And hence we decided to allocate funds for Polycap from our own resources.”

About Cadila Pharmaceuticals Limited

Cadila Pharmaceuticals Limited operates as a pharmaceutical company worldwide. It focuses on various areas, such as formulations (human & veterinary), new drug discovery, novel drug delivery, pharmaceutical ingredients, analytical research, phytochemistry, biotechnology, plant tissue culture, biosynthesis, genetic engineering, vaccines, and immunoglobulins. Cadila Pharmaceuticals is the first Indian company to get US FDA approvals for clinical trials to be conducted in India. The company has filed five INDs with US FDA. The company’s diversified operations encompass hospital disposables and instrumentation, diagnostics, specialty chemicals, softgel, pharma machinery, and travel and leisure. Cadila Pharmaceuticals is setting up a pharma sector specific Special Economic Zone, PhaEZ Park near Ahmedabad in the vicinity of Dholera Special Investment Region and Delhi-Mumbai Investment Corridor. The company is based in Ahmedabad, India

http://www.cadilapharma.com