COVID-19 | Cadilla, Dr Reddy's and 5 other pharma firms cut Remdesivir injection prices on govt intervention

Remdesivir | Representative Image

Prices of Remdesivir injection have been voluntarily curtailed by various drug companies on the intervention of the government, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) said on Saturday.

Drug companies like Cadila Healthcare, Dr Reddy's Laboratories and Cipla have cut the prices of their respective brands of Remdesivir injection (100 mg/vial). The antiviral drug is used in the treatment of COVID-19. "Due to the government's intervention, the price of #Remdesivir Injection is now reduced! I am thankful to pharmaceutical companies for joining hands with the Government to fight against COVID-19 Pandemic," Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Mansukh L Mandaviya tweeted.

Union Minister Sadananda Gowda also hailed the decision taken by the drug companies. In a tweet, he said: "In a huge relief to people in this crucial time, after govt's intervention, the price of #Remdesivir is now reduced! I am grateful to pharma companies for standing along with PM @narendramodi's fight against #Covid." In a tweet, he said.

According to the details shared by the NPPA, Cadila Healthcare has reduced the price of its REMDAC (Remdesivir 100 mg) injection to Rs 899 from Rs 2,800 earlier. Similarly, Syngene International has cut the price of its brand RemWin to Rs 2,450 from Rs 3,950 earlier. Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy's Laboratories has cut the price of REDYX, which used to cost Rs 5,400 earlier to Rs 2,700 now. Similarly, Cipla has reducedP of its CIPREMI brand to Rs 3,000 from Rs 4,000 earlier. Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy's Laboratories has cut the price of REDYX, which used to cost Rs 5,400 earlier to Rs 2,700 now.

Mylan has also reduced the price of its brand from Rs 4,800 to Rs 3,400. Similarly, Jubilant Generics has cut the price of its remdesivir brand to Rs 3,400 from Rs 4,700 earlier. Hetero Healthcare has also cut the price of its brand COVIFOR from Rs 5,400 to Rs 3,490 now.

On April 17, A war of words broke out between Union Minister Mansukh L Mandaviya and NCP leader Nawab Malik on the availability of antiviral drug Remdesivir, which is used in the treatment of COVID-19. Malik, in a series of tweets, alleged that the central government is not giving permission to various export-oriented units (EoUs) in the country to sell the drug in the domestic market.

These words were strongly refuted by Minister of State of Chemicals and Fertilisers Mandaviya who said the government is making every effort to double the production of the drug in the country. "Tweets by @nawabmalikncp are shocking. It is full of half-truths and lies and the threats issued are unacceptable. He is unaware of the ground situation. GoI has been in active contact with officers of GoM and is assisting with the supply of Remdesivir in every manner," he tweeted.

In another tweet, he said:"As per the Government's record, there is only one unit of EoU and one in SEZ. We have reached out to all the Manufacturers of Remdesivir. No such consignment is stuck. I request you (Malik) to share the list of these 16 companies, availability of stock and WHO-GMP with them." The central government is committed to doing everything to help the people, Mandaviya added.

Earlier Malik, a minister in the Maharashtra government, alleged that there were 16 EoUs in the country that has 20 lakh vials of Remdesivir available with them. "Since exports are now banned by the government, these units are seeking permission to sell this medicine in our country but the central government is denying the same," he tweeted.