In the wake of increasing demand for anti-viral drug Remdesivir from across the States, the Centre on Saturday urged the injection makers to slash its price considerably. The Union Health Ministry in its “Clinical Management Protocols for Covid-19” has recommended the use of Remdesivir in patients in the moderate stages of the illness.

According to a statement from the Government, the Union Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers, Department of Pharmaceuticals, NPPA - Advisor (Costs) NI Chowdhury on Saturday ordered all pharma companies to comply with the revised norms with immediate and retrospective effect.

Pharmaceutical companies have reduced the price from 25 per cent to up to 68 per cent.

 According to the details shared by the NPPA, Cadila Healthcare has reduced the price of its REMDAC 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 reduced price of its CIPREMI brand to Rs 3,000 from Rs 4,000 earlier. Jubilant Generics has cut the price of its remdesivir brand to Rs 3,400 from Rs 4,700 earlier.

Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya said the Government plans to double the production in the country and has given permission to 20 more plants recently to increase capacity to manufacture. Ensuring adequate supply of Remdesivir to the people of Maharashtra remains the priority of the Centre, he said.

As per the Government’s record, there is only one unit of EoU and one in SEZ. Government has reached out to all the Manufacturers of Remdesivir. No consignment is stuck, the Minister said as he asked concerned people to share the list of 16 companies, availability of stock and WHO-GMP with them.

The announcement came after the Centre held a meeting with all-existing manufacturers of the drug to discuss the increase in production and supply and also to reduce the price of Remdesivir injection. The Centre recently also banned the export of Remdesivir and its active pharmaceutical ingredients to ensure its smooth availability in the domestic market.

Presently, the current total installed capacity of the seven manufacturers of Remdesivir is 38.80 lakh vials per month.

Fast-track approval has been given for seven additional sites having the production capacity of 10 lakh vials/month to six manufacturers. Another 30lakh vials/month production is lined up. This would ramp up the production capacity for manufacturing to around 78 lakh vials/month, said the Government.