Bengal Chemicals gears up to make key drug HCQ in battle against Covid-19

Firm faces major raw material crunch in catering to huge spike in demand for the drug; CII to explore feasibility of growing cinchona, from where the key ingredient is extracted

The country’s oldest pharmaceuticals company, Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd (BCPL), is suddenly in the spotlight due to the sudden demand for hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), the most sought-after drug in the treatment of Covid-19.

BCPL was traditionally an HCQ manufacturer but ceased production decades back owing to cash constraints and labour issues. After China reported encouraging results of the drug on Covid-19 patients and the US asked India to supply the medicine in huge volumes to fight the pandemic on American soil, the demand for HCQ has risen suddenly globally. Other Covid-19-affected countries has also asked India to supply the medicine.