Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 29 /Trend M. Moezzi/
Scientists in Iran have produced the ingredients needed for 6 medications used to treat diseases ranging from asthma to cancer, Mehr News Agency reported.
The domestically manufactured medications are important because of the technology needed to produce them and their lower cost for patients said Dr. Mostafa Ghanei, the deputy minister for research and technology at Iran's health ministry. For example, the price for one of the domestically produced drugs is 30 percent of the price for its foreign equivalent, said Dr. Ghanei.
The domestic manufacture of these drugs cost less than $16 million but will save consumers around $49 million a year.
The medications that can be manufactured domestically after this success include drugs used for cosmetic purposes and those used to treat cancer and a nerve disease. Salmeterole, is for treating asthma; Riluzole, is used in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) a nerve cell disease that affects muscle movement; Letrozol is used for aromatase inhibitors for treating breast cancer and ovarian cancer; Zoledronic acid is for a drug to help prevent osteoporosis; botulinum toxin type A (Botox), is used for cosmetic purposes; and Antihemophilic Factor VII helps prevent and control bleeding in patients who have hemophilia A.