Sofosbuvir production: Drug regulatory body to re-examine 12 pharma firms

ISLAMABAD:

Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has constituted a three-member committee to inspect and assess capacity of pharmaceutical companies which were earlier allowed to manufacture sofosbuvir tablets, used in the treatment of hepatitis C.

Sources said Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination had allowed 12 pharmaceutical companies to manufacture the tablets in a bid to make the medicine available at cheaper rates.

Currently, a Lahore-based company has the monopoly over sofosbuvir manufacturing in the country. One course of the medicine costs around Rs33,000.

One of the 12 companies had announced to sell the medicine at Rs10,000 per course. Sources said the fresh examination process for he 12 companies was meant to delay the manufacturing of the medicine. They claimed this was being done in connivance with the company, which is currently the sole local producer.

The committee — comprising Muzammal Najmi, Muhammad Ubaid and Saifur Rehman — would meet today.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2015.