With the Central Government deciding not to allow sale of avian flu drug through the retail chemist shops, the drug major Cipla has decided to launch the drug in India from today as planned earlier, through hospital pharmacies and clinics. Further, Cipla is likely to 'make available' the drug at the cheapest price of Rs 650 per 10 tablets, exclusive of excise duty, which comes around Rs 100 per strip.

Talking to Pharmabiz, Cipla Chairman and Managing Director Yusuf K Hamied said he could understand the Central Government decision to ban sale of the drug through retail outlets considering the gravity of the situation. "I welcome the Central Government decision, considering the gravity of the situation as availability of the drug in pharmacies could lead to complex issues like black-marketing or people unnecessarily consuming the medicine. However, we will ensure that the drug is made available with the hospitals and clinics from tomorrow," said Hamied.

Commenting on the price of the drug, he said Antiflu may be priced cheaper at Rs 650 per 10-tablet strip, exclusive of excise duty. Earlier, Cipla was planning to launch the drug in India at a price of Rs 1000 per 10 tablets in the retail market. Hetero Drugs, the license holder from Roche for Tamiflu, is supplying the drug to the Government at a price of Rs 750 per 10 tablets. "Excise duty will come around Rs 100. If I get a million tablet order, then I can offer the drug at much less price than this," said Hamied.

He said Cipla is yet to receive any orders from the government. "We received lots of enquiries from various officials. But we have not received a single order as of now from the Government," added Hamied.

Meanwhile, informed sources noted Cipla has every right to manufacture and market the drug as the company has received marketing approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). Using this, the company will be able to make available the drug through hospital pharmacies. Top-level trade sources said the company had made all the arrangements for marketing Antiflu in various states. Hamied yesterday told Pharmabiz that Cipla would go ahead with the plans of manufacturing Antiflu to the tune of one-lakh treatments per week.

Analysts point out Cipla is working out a new game plan to displace Roche - Hetero combination as the drug provider for the Indian Government, by making available the drug at a price of Rs 650 per strip. Cipla, which shot to international fame by offering its generic AIDS therapy regimen at a price of less than $1 per day, is trying to repeat the act in the case of Avian flu. At present, 10 tablets of Tamiflu costs $ 60 in the international market. The company has already started exporting Antiflu to a few Asian countries.