Sub-license for Hepatitis C drug beneficial for patients: Cipla

Jaideep Gogtay, Clinical Head, Cipla says the release of sub-licenses of Daclatasvir, by the Medicines Patent Pool  will improve access to the drug for around 10 million Hepatitis C-infected people in the country.  He, however, declined to comment on the sales expected for Cipla from this drug.

Cipla, Emcure, Hetero and Natco Pharma have signed non-exclusive royalty free agreements and can produce and sell the drug in 112 low and middle income countries.Gogtay pointed out that in India the cost of treatment of Hepatitis C ranges between Rs 75,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh per patient, depending on the type of virus and the intensity.

He also highlighted that the fact that some state and local hospitals are looking to acquire these drugs and that is a positive.