Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a Government of India enterprise, conferred the “BIRAC Innovator Award 2024” to Wockhardt’s Chairman, Dr. Habil Khorakiwala.

On his behalf, the award was received by the inventor, Dr. Mahesh Patel, Chief Scientific Officer - Drug Discovery Research during “Global Bio – India 2024” event held in New Delhi.

The award is in recognition of the highest level of innovation and research that led to successful development of Nafithromycin (Miqnaf), which is the first ever multi-drug resistant pathogen active respiratory antibiotic for the treatment of Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia.

Miqnaf (Nafithromycin) fulfils major unmet medical need as existing treatment based on Azithromycin and Amoxicillin + Clavulanic acid have either developed resistance in contemporary respiratory pathogens or lack the coverage of entire range of respiratory pathogens involved in Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia. As a result, many of these patients need to be hospitalized due to limitations of current treatment options. With a once-a-day, ultra-short, 3 day- course of oral treatment, Miqnaf (Nafithromycin) would obviate the need of hospitalization for many such patients.

Discovery and development of Nafithromycin at Wockhardt spanned over 12 years and involved several Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical studies which were conducted in the USA and Europe. Nafithromycin has successfully completed Phase III clinical trial in India and is awaiting DCGI approval.

Globally, for the 1st time in 33 years, a new macrolide drug in the form of Miqnaf (Nafithromycin) has been developed to treat millions of community respiratory infections through a convenient home-based oral monotherapy.