Companies such as Cadila Healthcare, Lupin, and Natco, which sell generic versions of flu medication in the US market, are likely to benefit.
The renowned pulmonologist, who was part of the national COVID task force, highlighted the need for research on developing vaccines which will cover not only the current circulating strains but also from the emerging variants.
The central government's decision to stockpile another 20 million capsules of generic Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) to strengthen its preparedness to fight the H1N1 epidemic has alerted domestic pharmaceutical companies.
The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday told the state governments to crack down on people hoarding and black-marketing swine flu drug Oseltamivir and masks used as protection against the disease, warning that their "shortage will not be tolerated."
Drug firm Strides Acrolab on Tuesday said it is in a position to supply Oseltamivir Capsules, the only available medicine against Influenza A HINI virus (Swine Flu), to meet the demand both from domestic and overseas market.
The government today decided to allow retail sale of Oseltamivir, commonly known as Tamiflu, the only drug available to treat swine flu.
Leading Indian pharmaceutical company Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited has offered to provide oseltamivir phosphate capsules
Roche on Friday announced that it has granted a sub-licence to Hyderabad based Hetero Drugs for the production of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) as part of its continued efforts to increase and speed up availability of the medicine for influenza pandemic plan
The company has sought the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s approval to market a generic version of Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate), said Gilead Sciences, the US company that owns the Tamiflu patent. Natco officials declined to comment on the development.
The central government's decision to continue controlling supply of the swine flu drug, oseltamivir, will help the drug innovator, Swiss multinational Hoffmann-La Roche, and its Indian licencee, Hetero Drugs, maintain their effective monopoly in the country, even as the drug lacks patent protection in India, fear domestic industry circles.
"We have launched Oseltamivir brand, called Antiflu, which is the only flu medicine from India to be prequalified by World Health Organisation," Cipla's Chairman and Managing Director, Y K Hamied said.
Pharmaceutical firm Strides Arcolab on Friday said it has launched its anti-swine flu drug 'Starflu'.
Tamiflu, the only drug for swine flu, will be made available in 480 chemist outlets across the country, the Centre said.
Tamiflu, the anti-viral drug for swine flu, may do more harm than good to children afflicted with the H1N1 virus, a new study published on Monday says. The research published in the British Medical Journal says that antivirals Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and Zanamivir (Relenza) are unlikely to prevent complications in childrenwho have swine flu.
Assuring people that the government is determined to control the spread of swine flu in the country, the government on Friday said within a couple of days it will review and decide on the open sale of Tamiflu (Oseltamivir), the drug used for treatment of the disease.
Hetero is the only Indian partner of multinational drug major Roche Scientific for the manufacture and supply of the latter's patented drug, Tamilflu in developing countries.
India recorded its first case of swine flu, with a 23-year-old man who flew from New York to Hyderabad testing positive for the virus. The patient, who travelled from the United States via Dubai, arrived in Hyderabad on May 13 and was isolated as he reported fever and his samples were sent for a detailed examination.
Under the partnership, Bharat Biotech will use the patented virus like particle technology platform of Novavax to develop the single dosage pandemic influenza vaccine and undertake clinical trials before manufacturing and marketing the same.\n\n
The national capital has reported the second death due to swine flu this year with a 60-year-old woman succumbing to the H1N1 virus at a hospital while undergoing treatment.
A 59-year-old man undergoing treatment for swine-flu at Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi has died, in what is believed to be the first death from H1N1 influenza in the national capital this season.
Swine flu has claimed the lives of 34 more persons raising the toll to 875 across the country even as the number of affected people breached the 15,000 mark on Tuesday.
'As a doctor, I always knew I would get it, but I was always sure I would get cured too.'
The virus continued to spread its tentacles to new states, including Mizoram.
40 more people have succumbed to the virus while the number of those affected crossed 18,000 on Friday.
'Unless it is a situation where a patient must be hospitalised, that patient can be very easily treated at home... Patients recover in situations where they are more comfortable.'
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