The Great Gambler

Wockhardt's pivot to create novel antibiotics is not only stoking its revival, but also heralds a new trajectory up the value chain for India's pharma sector

- Devansh Singh

In a span of 45 days, over nine antibiotics across five different classes were administered to a child with bone marrow cancer.

As the 15-year-old American patient's immunity had taken a severe hit due to chemotherapy, a multi-drug-resistant bacteria was threatening his life.

Nothing seemed to work.

With few options left, the medical team secured the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) permission to use a novel drug called Zaynich that was still in the investigation stage. After a gruelling few weeks of treatment with the drug, the infection subsided.

Thousands of miles away in Mumbai, 83-year-old Habil Khorakiwala heaved a sigh of relief. His quarter-century of punt on antibiotic research was getting vindicated at long last.

Zaynich, a breakthrough antibiotic, whose clinical trials were completed earlier this year with 96.8% efficacy and is awaiting FDA approval, has already saved 51 lives in emergency cases when most other antibiotics failed.

But it has given more hope to Khorakiwala, the founder of Wockhardt which has discovered the promising drug to fight superbugs, than anyone else. Over two decades, he has bet the farm on discovering new antibiotics while the pharma giants of the West stepped away.

Miqnaf, another antibiotic developed by the company, was launched in India this year after regulatory approvals. When The Lancet published clinical results of Miqnaf in September, it marked the first time an India-origin molecule had found a place in the world’s most-respected medical journal.

At present, Wockhardt boasts a pipeline of six novel drugs against infections.

“Zaynich and Miqnaf show that Indian companies can now create original molecules that meet the highest regulatory and clinical standards. Innovation needs patience and conviction...India needs more entrepreneurs and investors who are willing to think in years, not quarters,” says Vivek Wadhwa, a biotech startup founder.