New pill increases platelet count, may help dengue patients
Micro Labs Ltd recently launched Caripill, a pill that can increase platelet count, which can be a big help for dengue patients.
Blood platelets are essential for blood clotting and are often lower for people with dengue. A very low platelet count, if left unchecked, can lead to excessive bleeding and death.
Caripill is made with the extract from Papaya leaves and is cerified by Ayush, the ministry for Ayurvedic and other traditional medicines.
“Caripill in its clinical trials has demonstrated positive results with a dramatic decrease in the haemorrhage condition, besides, none of the patients had to undergo blood transfusion so far,” said Dr. A.C. Gowda, Fortis Hospital, Bengaluru and principal investigator for Caripill’s clinical trials.
Caripill is the first drug that can increase blood platelet count. Before the drug, the only option was to transfuse blood platelets.
Dengue fever is only treated by its symptoms, which means that doctors treat their patients for fever, or dehydration, whenever they show. However, according to Mohan Srihari, a diabetologist, there is no treatment to increase platelet count. “The only option is to transfuse platelets,” he said.
“Treatment for dengue is mostly symptomatic and there is no drug readily available and cheap-drug that boosts platelet levels,” said Vineet Kalia, Micro Labs’ executive vice president for strategy and business development.
Category: Features, Pharmaceuticals
