The three largest drug manufacturers in Gujarat to double production of ‘wonder drug’ hydroxychloroquine

• The three major drug makers in Gujarat — Zydus Cadila, Vital Pharma and Mangalam Drugs and Organics — will double the production of hydroxychloroquine’s active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) by next month.
  
• As of now, a total of 20 crore hydroxychloroquine units have been produced from 40 tons of APIs.
  
• They are now planning to increase it to 40 crore by doubling the producing twice the APIs produced at 80 tons.
  
• India exported 35.8 lakh tablets of hydroxychloroquine and 9 tons of APIs to the US after Trump threatened retaliation.

The three major drug makers of Gujarat — Zydus Cadila, Vital Pharma and Mangalam Drugs and Organics — will double the production of hydroxychloroquine’s active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) by next month.

Hydroxychloroquine is an anti-malarial drug which is being used to treat Covid-19 patients due to its ability to contain viral infections in general. And, APIs are active pharmaceutical ingredients used to manufacture the anti-malarial drug.

40 crore tablets by next month

As of now, a total of 20 crore hydroxychloroquine medicines have been produced from 40 tons of APIs. The pharma companies are now planning to increase it to 40 crore by producing twice the amount of APIs, at 80 tons.

The move comes as the demand for the ‘wonder drug’ increases amid Coronavirus scare, the Gujarat state board of the Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA) told Pharmbiz. The ingredients thus prepared shall be available for domestic sales and export.

“As far as our industry sources are concerned 67 manufacturers were granted licences to bring out formulations of HCQ, with 32 licences for domestic sale and 35 for exports. Till now the state was producing roughly 20 crores tablets, HCQ 200 mg, in every month using 40 tons of APIs supplied by Zydus, Vital and Mangalam. This figure is going to be doubled from next month as we are increasing the production of raw materials to 80 tons in next month when our production of the finished products will go up to 40 crores,” Viranchi Shah, chairman of Gujarat, IDMA said.

India exported 35.8 lakh tablets of hydroxychloroquine to the US

Given the surge in demand, India had initially imposed a partial ban on the export of the drug. But, after the US President Donald Trump had threatened retaliation for clamping the exports, India relented. It exported 35.8 lakh tablets of hydroxychloroquine and 9 tons of APIs to the US.

The US aside, over 30 countries — including Sri Lanka, UAE and Nepal — have been urging India to export its anti-malarial drug. This is despite the fact that the drug has no clinical proof of being a sureshot cure.

This is possibly because hydroxychloroquine is by far the most promising of drugs, recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

This is in line with the advisory by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry that said, "Hydroxychloroquine is found to be effective against Coronavirus in laboratory studies and in-vivo studies. Its use in prophylaxis is derived from the available evidence of benefit as treatment and supported by preclinical data," IANS reported.

Moreover, the apex body for biomedical research Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is permitted to use the tablets on medical staff that have been actively involved in handling the suspected Covid-9 patients. According to Pharmbiz, the government will preserve the drug for domestic purposes.

“The cost of production of APIs is high and the government control over export is helpful for the health sector at present, otherwise some may incline to hoarding of the materials to create artificial shortage in the market,” Shah added.

See also:
The US is banking on India’s Hydroxychloroquine medicine — yet experts have their doubts

After Trump calls Hydroxychloroquine ‘gift from heaven’ Bolsonaro calls it ‘sanjeevni booti’