Nirma techies’ work may make key arthritis medicine cheaper

Here is some good news for patients suffering from acute arthritis. The non-steroidal pain-killer, aceclofenac, which is preferred by doctors and patients alike because of its fewer side effects, may soon become cheaper, thanks to the research acumen of three students of Nirma University.

The three students — Moksha Udani, Shreya Gupta and Antrix Patel — graduated in chemical engineering this year.

The research done by them in their final years was so successful that the trio have decided set up an industrial unit in Dahej four years from now to produce a cheaper formulation of aceclofenac. And there is a strong possibility that Nirma University itself may fund their effort to produce their product on a commercial scale. The trio did the research for their project, titled, ‘Process Development of an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) - Aceclofenac.’

Their project guide was Dr SS Patel, head of the chemical engineering department.

"The main aim of the project was to develop an alternative process for aceclofenac," said Udani. "Another drug, diclofenac, is more widely used as a pain-killer but it can cause various gastrointestinal problems. Aceclofenac is known to be more efficient in giving relief from pain and has relatively no side effects." Udani added that they would be applying for land in Dahej GIDC to set up their industry.

Gupta explained that their product was basically a derivative of diclofenac, but as it has almost no side effects it is the better drug.

"By a stroke of luck, we found raw materials in Ankleshwar,” Gupta said. This helped bring down cost.