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At present, the BPH market is dominated by the three domestic pharmaceutical majors — Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd, Cipla and Abbott.

HYDERABAD, March 20

SERUM Institute of India Ltd (SIIL), the Pune-headquartered leading vaccine manufacturer, has fixed a target of capturing at least 20 per cent share of the BPH (Benign Prostate Hyperplasia) segment of the domestic pharmaceutical market during the next fiscal year.

At a press conference here on Thursday on the eve of launching a drug for patients suffering from BPH, which occurs due to enlargement of the prostate gland in males over 40 years of age, the SIIL Medical Director, Dr Subodh Bhardwaj, said the BPH market in the country was currently estimated at around Rs 53 crore.

At present, the BPH market is dominated by the three domestic pharmaceutical majors — Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd, Cipla and Abbott, he said.

Stating that the drug developed by SIIL for BPH, branded Pyginal, was extracted from the bark of a tree, Pygeum Africanum, found in South and Central Africa, Dr Bhardwaj said the drug's efficacy has been proven in the Indian patients.

According to him, various drugs were currently available in the market for the treatment of BPH patients but they offer only symptomatic relief; some of them even cause serious side effects.

"Pyginal is the safest option available for the management of BPH and it does not have any side-effects like postural hypo tension or loss of libido or impotency. At present, we are undertaking additional clinical trials by doctors and the results will be shared very soon."

As per the study conducted by SIIL, prostate enlargement would be widespread among elderly men and 50 per cent of males above 60 years of age would suffer from BPH irrespective of whether they live in urban or rural areas. The common symptoms of the problem include increased frequency of urination, urgency to urinate, feeling of incomplete urination, painful urination and dribbling post-urination.

According to Prof Paolo Marandola, an Italian urologist, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 80 per cent of the men would eventually need treatment for prostate problems and one in three would need an operation.

"Globally, the prostate gland problem is of great concern. Current statistics reveal that the incidence of BPH is around 50 per cent in males at age of 60, and this percentage may go as high as 75 per cent at the age group of 80 years," Prof Marandola said.

SIIL proposes to promote Pyginal to the medical fraternity through scientific materials such as visual aids, literature and through non-governmental organisations and senior citizens groups, Dr Bhardwaj said.

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