Cipla launches swine flu drug

Leading pharmaceutical company, Cipla Ltd has announced the launch of Antiflu to treat H1N1 swine flu virus, a top company official said.

"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 told reporters on Wednesday.

Currently Roche, the Swiss pharmaceuticals group which makes Tamiflu, a prescription drug have treated around 42 million patients of H1N1 in about 80 countries worldwide.

Cipla's Antiflu would be available both as capsules and liquid, will cost Rs 475 for 10 capsules, with 75 ml syrup will be similarly priced.

The launch of Antiflu comes in wake of WHO declaring flu as pandemic, which is anticipated to strike with the seasonal peak of winter, Hamied said.

Antiflu would be sold under Schedule X category in India, like Virenza, he said.

Asked on export plans of Antiflu, Hamied said, "There is a shortage of this drug in USA. We have made an offer and willing to make this drug available in US markets. Other countries also can approach us for the supply of Antiflu."

The company can produce upto 2 million doses a month to meet the growing requirement of this medicine, Hamied said.

Unlike paracetamol prescribed to control fever, Antiflu and Virenza directly targets the virus and blocks its replication, Hamied said.

Best results are seen if the medicines are taken within 48 hours of symptoms. Clinical trials suggest that these medicines reduce suffering considerably over over 24 hours, he said.

Timely usage of the drugs can reduce health complicaitons, requirements of antibiotics and in the elderly even chances of getting a stroke.

Influenza, a perceivably benign condition actually kills about 2.5-5 lakh people every year worldwide according to WHO. These are generally the elderly or those with chronic underling conditions of the lung, heart, kedney etc; he said.

The fatality pattern this year with the 2009 H1N1 virus has been unusual with the virus attacking healthy adults and children and pregnent women, Cipla's Medical Director, J A Gogtay said.

Both inluenza and H1N1 are extremely contagious and Antiflu and Virenza are also recommended as preventive therapy for people with vulnerably health conditions such as asthma, COPD, HIV, heart disease or diabetes, Gogtay said.

However, medicines should be taken only with the advice of a medical practitioner, he said.