Financial Express - 28th April 2009, Mumbai

Troikaa Pharma Introduces Trofentyl OTFC

A new drug for breakthrough Cancer pains.

Troikaa Phamaceuticals Ltd. Has introduced  Trofentyl OTFC, lozenge (tablet) for “breakthrough pains” in cancer patients.  The new drug will substantially alleviate cancer patients  pain suffered due to the disease.

Trofentyl OTFC lozenge, containing the active drug is mounted on a lozenge holder (stick). The patient should sucks lozenge in mouth (like lolly-pop), holding it with the lozenge holder, to experience the therapeutic benefit. Appropriate taste masking technology is used to ensure that the lozenge has a pleasant taste.  Also, patient feeling any discomfort produced by the drug being administered can promptly remove the lozenge from the mouth.  The unique formulation of the lozenge ensures to produce the desired therapeutic effect within minutes.

The lozenges and the holder are indigenously designed and patented.

Ketan Patel, Managing Director, Troikaa Pharmaceuticals said, we have always focused novel drug delivery systems through continuous research and development efforts with the objective of providing superior healthcare solutions to the people.

Terminally ill cancer patients are administered analgesics to provide a blanket of pain relief.  However, more than once in 24 hours, the pain breaks through the protective blanket of pain relief.  However more than once in 24 hours, the pain breaks through the protective blanket of analgesics,  causing severe agony to the patient.  This bout of severe pain usually lasts for 30-60 minutes and thereafter subsides.  But it wears out the ailing patient and diminishes the quality of life.  Trofentyl OTFC medicated lozenge promptly aborts the bout of breakthrough pain and significantly improves quality of life of cancer patients.

The buccal (mouth) region offers an attractive route of administration for delivery of drugs that undergo rapid enzymatic degradation with the gut or break down into inactive components in the liver after being swallowed.  The challenge is to ensure absorption of the drug through the oral mucosa, the membrane lining our oral cavity.