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Remdesivir makers told to ramp up production

New Delhi: The department of pharmaceuticals (DoP) has asked the manufacturers of remdesivir to ramp up the production of the antiviral, even as state authorities grapple with complaints of black marketing of the drug.

The Delhi state regulator, meanwhile, has written to the association of chemists warning of strict action including imprisonment against those hoarding and black marketing the drug prescribed for Covid-19 treatment.


The DoP secretary on Friday held a meeting with the drug’s manufacturers after state drug controllers received several complaints of profiteering in pandemic.

The government had stepped in after they found the drug priced at ₹4,000-5,400 a vial being sold at as high as ₹60,000.



“Though it is a prescription drug, complaints have been received of its black marketing. Making money out of tragedy is not done. However, it’s a fluid situation and we have told the manufacturers that we will provide them all necessary assistance in case they want the government's help to ramp up production,” an official told ET.

US-based Gilead's remdesivir, sold under the brand name Cipremi by Cipla and Covifor by Hetero, costs ₹4,000 and ₹5,400, respectively, in the Indian market. Mylan will launch remdesivir around July 22-24.

Delhi’s state regulator has written to chemists' association also about illegal imports of Covid-related drugs remdesivir, favipiravir and tocilizumab from Bangladesh, with the letter by Atul Nasa, head of office, controlling and licensing authority, warning of strict action against those dealing with such trade.

To clamp down on the alleged black marketing of remdesivir drug, the Drugs Controller General of India has also asked state drug regulators and the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) to enforce the maximum retail price of the experimental Covid-19 drug.

The action by Drug Controller General of India VG Somani came after it received a letter from LocalCircles, a social media site dedicated for governance and community engagement, on the alleged black marketing.

In the letter dated July 6, LocalCircles chief executive officer Sachin Taparia appealed to government organisations, including the health ministry, to check on the high price that the patients were being made to pay to procure the Covid drug.


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