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To combat the first global flu epidemic in 41 years, Indian pharma company Cipla Ltd launched its drug against the H1N1 virus, called Antiflu, on Wednesday. The launch came in the wake of World Health Organisation declaring flu as a 'pandemic'. Cipla's Antiflu is the only flu medicine from India to be pre-qualified by WHO.

Cipla's Oseltamivir (the generic version of the drug to treat influenza A) brand will cost Rs 475 for 10 capsules, with a 75 ml syrup set to be similarly priced.

"Influenza, a perceivably benign condition, actually kills about 2.5 - 5 lakh people every year worldwide, according to the WHO. These are generally the elderly or those with chronic underlying conditions of the lung, heart, kidney etc. The fatality pattern this year with the H1N1 virus has been unusual with the virus attacking healthy adults, children and pregnant women," said Dr J A Gogtay, Medical Director, Cipla.

Antiflu will be sold under Schedule X category in India, like other anti H1N1 drugs. "The drug will be available with chemists holding licence to sell Schedule X drugs. And it will be sold only on a doctor's prescription," added Dr Gogtay. Cipla is one of the four Indian drug manufacturers approved to manufacture Oseltamivir, along with Ranbaxy Laboratories, Strides Arcolab and Hetero Drugs. Cipla has already supplied nearly 2 million capsules to the government of India.

"There are about three to four Oseltamivir manufacturers in India. However, Anitflu is the only drug to be pre qualified for swine flu by WHO along with Roche, the international manufacturers," said Dr Gogtay.

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