Strides Arcolab which is one of the qualified suppliers of drugs for H1N1 virus is ready with supplies of 'oseltamivir capsules' - the generic equivalent of Tamiflu. It is currently awaiting the orders from government of India to supply the drug.
The company has started production of oseltamivir at its US FDA approved and WHO pre-qualified oral dosage forms facility in Bangalore from June this year. It has also conducted necessary bioequivalence studies and established bioequivalence of its product with Tamiflu. Although the company has a capacity to produce 2 million capsules, it is fully geared to meet significant supply need of the product for domestic and international market, said V S Iyer, CEO, India Operations, Strides Arcolab Limited.
Apart from Strides, other companies which have received the clearances from the Drugs Control General of India are Ranbaxy, Cipla, Hetro Drugs and Natco. All these companies are also waiting for government nod for supplies, informed sources.
According to government officials, right now the Tamiflu is supplied by Roche, the innovator of Tamiflu to World Health Organization. Going by the incidence of swine flu with around 712 cases in the country so far, the government has adequately stock of this drug.