Oxytocin ban: Sole producer KAPL struggles with excess capacity, inventory

The firm had capacity to produce five million ampoules of oxytocin in a month; it is in the process of adding another 5.1 million ampoules a month of capacity by October 15, says MD Nirja Saraf

With the ban on manufacture and sale of oxytocin, the peptide hormone, by private companies to finally take effect from October 1, the public sector unit chosen to be the sole producer, Karnataka Antibiotics (KAPL), struggles with both excess capacity and inventory.
 
The ban date was earlier deferred. While demand rose over recent months, with hospitals stocking the drug on apprehension of a shortage, a company official said hardly any demand had come for KAPL.
 
The firm had capacity to produce five million ampoules of oxytocin in a month; it is in the process of adding another 5.1