India To Finally Receive Swine Flu Drugs

Generic version of Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) will now be available in Indian market, after several months of swine flu attack. A week ago Natco Pharma and Strides Arcolabs have launched their generic version of Oseltamivir, Natflu and Starflu. These drugs will be available to the customers directly under prescription.

Reportedly, Cipla’s Antiflu will be available in India in a few days. Amar Lulla, joint managing director of Cipla told ET: “We will start selling Antiflu (Oseltamavir) capsules in the retail in about 10 days. It will be priced at INR475 per 10 capsules. The paediatric suspension will be priced at INR475 per bottle of 75 ml.”

These drugs will be available in Schedule X pharmacies, with Natflu priced at INR480 for 10 capsules and Starflu at INR460 for 10 capsules. However, the available drug Fluvir, from Hetero Drugs, is priced at INR449.

VC Nannapaneni, chairman of Natco Pharma, said: “The drug will be launched all over the country. But since Maharashtra and Karnataka are where maximum swine flu deaths have been reported, these two states are the immediate focus areas. The drug will be sold against a prescription only.”

Commenting on availability of drugs only by Schedule X pharmacies, Pratit Samdani, an internal physician at Jaslok Hospital, said: “If Oseltamavir is allowed to be sold at Schedule X outlets then why not at all outlets. As long as the record is maintained, free sale could be allowed.”