Natco to make 10mn strips of generic Tamiflu available by October

City-based drug firm Natco Pharma Limited (NPL) will make ten million strips of its generic version of Roche’s swine flu medicine Tamiflu available by October.

“We are fully equipped to meet the demand and by October end about ten million doses (a strip of ten capsules taken twice a day for five days) will be available,” Natco Pharma Director and Chief Financial Officer P. Bhaskara Narayana told reporters here on Monday evening.

The company, which last evening launched Natflu—generic version of oseltamivir, (branded as Tamiflu)—will start selling to licensed chemists in Andhra Pradesh by the end of this week.

“It will shortly be marketed throughout the country,” he said, adding that currently it was difficult to estimate the demand but the company could supply whatever the demand may be.

He said a strip of ten tablets of Natflu will cost Rs. 480 in the retail market whereas for government purchase it will be priced at Rs. 275.

Mr. Narayana said many chemists, including pharmacy chain Medplus, have applied for the license to sell the drug.

Medplus has 630 outlets across the country and in Hyderabad Natflu will be available at 25 Medplus shops.

When asked about paediatric patients, Mr. Narayana said the drug for the children will be available within 45 to 60 days.