RxMD- The unstoppable

RxMD began as a sole proprietorship drug development consulting company in the United States in 1997. When it started its Chennai operations in 2006, it pioneered knowledge process services in clinical R&D in the country, providing a range of drug development services. From the very beginning, RxMD has partnered with leading biotechnology and pharmacogenomics companies in Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States.

Achievements

Over the years, RxMD has played pivotal roles in the development of a number of immensely successful drugs for indications such as influenza, erectile dysfunction, HIV and Hepatitis. RxMD does not focus on any particular therapeutic area; its experience has covered a wide gamut of indications. Dr Vis Niranjan, Founder and Chief Medical Officer, RxMD, says, "From the start, we have been providing services to companies in the West; our clients are primarily global pharma cos in Europe and the US." RxMD does not offer clinical trial conduct; however, it has overseen the conduct of trials in India. "We prefer to focus on the non-operational components of clinical studies, those that require domain expertise," he adds. RxMD has also been invited to participate in FDA advisory meets held to evaluate the safety of marketed drugs. RxMD has also chaired and addressed sessions at the Drug Information Association (DIA) annual meets. Recently, RxMD has been contracted to provide pharmacovigilance services to a leading global pharma company.

Challenges outplayed

Since its inception there has been no looking back for the company. However, in a market where there is stiff competition, there must have been challenges that the company must have faced. On retrospection, Niranjan, avers that one of the main challenges they had faced in India was in getting people with experience of international drug development, as there was a paucity of talent in this area in the country. However, he points out, "We managed to circumvent this by providing in house training to our staff." Being optimistic of the future he concludes, "We are poised on an impressive growth trajectory and are also contemplating going the whole hog—taking a molecule through to commercialisation."