Natco's hepatitis C drug in Nepal

Prices medicine at MRP of Rs 19,900 for a bottle of 28 tablets

Hyderabad-based Natco Pharma Limited has launched the first generic version of anti-hepatitis medicine sofosbuvir in Nepal. Sofosbuvir is used to treat chronic hepatitis C infection and sold globally by Gilead Sciences, Inc, under its brand Sovaldi.

Earlier this month Natco had signed a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Gilead Science, to manufacture and sell generic versions of its chronic hepatitis C medicines in 91 developing countries. The company, which markets the generic sofosbuvir under brand Hepcinat, has priced the drug at Rs 19,900 for a bottle of 28 tablets in Nepal, according to a press release.

“Natco hopes to launch Hepcinat in India soon, subject to approval from the Drugs Controller General of India,” it said.

In January, the Indian patent office rejected the patent claim for Gilead Sciences Inc’s Sovaldi, which was priced at $84,000 for a 12-week course in the US. Last year Gilead said it intends to launch the medicine in India at a price point of $ 300 per month.

Natco scrip rose 2.58 per cent or Rs 39 to close at Rs 1,552.55 on the BSE on Monday.