The Hindu Business Line : Strides Arcolab ready to supply swine flu drug

Bangalore, Aug. 11 Amidst a nationwide rise in ‘swine flu’ cases and concerns, the Bangalore-based drug manufacturer, Strides Arcolab Ltd, said it was ready to deliver one million capsules of oseltamivir phosphate — the generic version of the drug to treat influenza A — within three-five days of getting a procurement order from the Government.

Mr V.S. Iyer, CEO, India Operations, said, “Strides is fully geared to meet significant supply need of the product for domestic and international markets.”

The order could be by a tender or as direct supplies. Strides’ oral products facility in Bangalore had a capacity to make over two million doses (a pack of 10 capsules) a month, he told Business Line. The plant is approved by the USFDA and pre-qualified for supplying to WHO.

Sole antidote

Oseltamivir is the generic version of Swiss major Roche’s product, Tamiflu. The drug is the sole known antidote to the H1N1 virus that has caused a global outbreak of influenza A/H.

Strides Arcolab is one of the four drug manufacturers approved to make oseltamivir, along with Ranbaxy Labs, Cipla and Hetero Drugs.

The statement comes at a time when the Centre reportedly plans to procure 20 million dosages, to be supplied through government channels. The Centre banned retail sales of the drug in May this year. Karnataka and a few States have provided the drug to select private hospitals.

Soon after the pandemic struck in the Americas in May, Strides, with a strong Latin American presence, had expressed plans to manufacture two million doses a month for exports.

Mr Iyer on Tuesday said the company had kept the raw stock for any national requirement and was now ready to convert it to finished dosages.