Glenmark, a Mumbai-based pharmaceutical firm delivered a point-by-point reply to the central government on tuesday, regarding the earlier notice seeking clarification over the firm allegedly ‘overcharging’ and making ‘false claims’ about the usage of branded generic ‘FabiFlu’. “Compared to other therapies approved for emergency use in Covid-19, Fabiflu is much more economical and an effective treatment,” Glenmark said in its reply to the showcause notice by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). While addressing the problem of “unaffordability due to high price” Glenmark said that it is still a more economical and effective treatment compared to other therapies approved for COVID-19.
FabilFlu, when launched by Glenmark was at the lowest market price of Rs 103 per tablet. The entire two-week course of treatment requires 122 tablets, It leads to a total cost of Rs. 12,500. The price of FabiFlu tablets were last week cut by 27% to Rs 75 per tabler, but even after this, the entire treatment course still costs Rs 9,150.
Glenmark also argued that the alternatives like Remdesivir, Tocilizumab, and Itolizumab cost 3 to 5 times higher than that of Favipiravir.
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