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Natco Pharma Launches Natflu

NATCO Pharma has launched NATFLU capsules (generic version of Tamiflu - Oseltamivir)— the first cure for swine flu to be available against medical prescription at chemists across India.

According to VC Nannapaneni, Chairman & Managing Director, Natco Pharma, "Globally, this drug is approved both in treatment and prevention of swine flu. Natflu is being launched all over India by Natco but since Maharashtra and Karnataka are the states where maximum swine flu deaths have been reported, these two states are the immediate focus areas." The company is ready with 1,25,000 doses and can meet any expectation depending on the seriousness of the swine flu situation.

The medicine, whose maximum retail price is fixed at Rs 480 for a bottle of 10 capsules, shall be made available in all Schedule X pharmacies, shortly. "Natco is working with low margins for this drug from the humane angle and not for purely commercial reasons," said Nannapaneni.

Natco Pharma has tied up with Medplus for distribution and is in talks with other distributors to ramp up its channel across India. The company expects to release 10 million capsules of Natflu by October 2009. "As of now, we are focusing only for domestic requirement.," said Nannapaneni.

In India, Natflu is indicated only for the treatment of influenza (H1N1) in adults; whereas globally this medicine is approved not only for the treatment but also for the prevention of influenza (H1N1). Natco Pharma today has four manufacturing facilities in Andhra Pradesh and Dehradun and employs around 2,000 people. It manufactures branded and generic dosage forms, bulk actives and intermediates for both the Indian as well as the international markets. The company is a pioneer in Timed Release Dosage Systems in India.

EH News Bureau