MUMBAI: Defending the pricing of its
Covid-19 drug
, FabiFlu (
Favipiravir), to the
drug regulator
, Mumbai-based Glenmark Pharma on Tuesday said that it is lower in India compared to other countries, and as against therapies approved under 'emergency use'.
In its response to a notice from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) seeking clarification on the pricing and claims of FabiFlu being effective for Covid-19 patients with comorbidities, the company said both clinical trials and restricted use approval were preceded by multiple dialogues, deliberations and consideration before the subject expert committee set up the Union ministry for health and family welfare.
The price of Favipiravir (200mg) tablet is Rs 600 in Russia, Rs 378 in Japan, Rs 350 in Bangladesh and Rs 215 in China. The drug has been approved under 'emergency use authorisation' against Covid-19 in China, UAE, Russia, Bangladesh and Turkey. Recently, the company had lowered the price of FabiFlu by 27% to Rs 75 from Rs 103 per tablet. "The price reduction was made possible through our efforts to obtain better yield and better scale, and with both API and formulations manufactured at Glenmark's own facilities in India," the company said.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.