Strides to supply 7.4 lakh oseltamivir (Tamiflu) pills to Indian health ministry

Bangalore-based Strides Arcolab has bagged a contract order from the Ministry of Health, Government of India for supply of 7.40 lakh doses of oseltamivir capsules to tackle the emergency situation arising out of H1N1 pandemic outbreak in the country.

Strides’ oseltmivir is the generic equivalent of Tamiflu – Roche’s innovator product, drug prescribed to treat influenza – A (H1N1).

Strides has conducted necessary bioequivalence studies and established bioequivalence of is product with Tamiflu, a company release said.

Strides is expected to start supply of the drug immediately. Strides has equipped itself to meet any emergency since the outbreak of the epidemic and is delighted to partner with the MoH, company officials said.

Strides’ generic oseltamivir is manufactured in its US FDA approved and WHO pre-qualified oral dosage forms manufacturing facility in Bangalore.

Strides is probably, the indian manufacturer of oseltmivir generic after the Hyderabad-based Hetero Drugs, that won oseltamivir supply contract from the government.

The government had procured around 9 million doses of oseltamivir from Hetero Drugs, the only domestic company that has a manufacturing agreement with Roche to make the low cost version of the patented version.

The health ministry also gave order to Roche for another one million doses of oseltamivir to complete its 10 million doses drug reserve.

The government is procuring oseltamivir at around Rs 280 for a pack of 10 tablets.

However, the health department has already exhausted or decentralized over 7.5 million capsules out of its 10 million doses stockpile of oseltamivir.

Health ministry officials indicated that they would buy another 20 million doses of oseltamivir soon to meet the emergency.

The government has alerted and asked the domestic companies like Ranbaxy Labs, Cipla, Natco Pharma, Strides Arcolab, Hetero Drugs and Roche India to be ready to supply for an order of 20 million capsules at short notice.

Established in 1990, Strides is one of India’s leading integrated manufacturer and exporter of finished pharmaceutical dosage forms – both branded and generic.

Strides manufactures pharmaceutical formulations in various dosage forms including sterile injectables with dedicated facilities for Penicillin and penams, cepahlosporins, oncolytics and lyophilized injectable products.

Strides also manufactures pharmaceutical formulations in oral dosage forms, including capsules & tablets and softgel capsules.

Strides operates in Australasia, Africa and India.Strides has joint ventures and front-ended operations in major markets and is a majority stakeholder of Ascent Pharmahealth Limited (APH), an ASX listed company.

Strides has collaborations with US PEPFAR and the UNICEF to supply a range of affordable generic pharmaceutical products used in the treatment of HIV, TB and Malaria.

Strides has manufacturing 13 facilities in Bangalore (India), Milan, Warsaw, Singapore and Lagos. The Indian manufacturing facilities are approved by all major regulatory bodies. Strides manufactures pharmaceutical formulations in various dosage forms including sterile injectables with dedicated facilities for penicillin and penams, cepahlosporins, oncolytics and lyophilized injectable products.

Strides also manufactures pharmaceutical formulations in oral dosage forms, including capsules & tablets and Softgel capsules. Strides operates in Australasia, Africa and India.

Strides is a majority stakeholder of Ascent Pharmahealth Limited (APH), an ASX listed company. The company also collaborates with Global Drug Agencies and US PEPFAR and the UNICEF to supply generic pharmaceutical products used in the treatment of HIV, TB and Malaria.

Strides has reported second quarter revenue from operations for the financial year 2009 at Rs.309 crores up 21%, and PAT at Rs. 42 crores against net Loss of Rs. 49 crores in Q2’08. Stand-alone revenue from operations at Rs. 175 crores up 9%, and PAT at Rs.60 crores against net loss of Rs.56 crores in Q2’08.

Operational EBITDA for Q2’09 at Rs 48.20 crores as against Rs 47.80 crores in Q2’08 after excluding Forex loss of Rs.13.70 crores in Q2’09 and forex gain of Rs.14.10 crores respectively.