Natco Pharma launches generic hepatitis C drug

Mumbai May 8 (IANS) Natco Pharma on Monday said it has launched a generic version of sofosbuvir 400 mg/velpatasvir 100 mg tablets in India which is used for treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

The pharmaceutical company said in a regulatory filing to the BSE that it will market the sofosbuvir 400 mg/velpatasvir 100 mg fixed dose combination in India under the brand name Velpanat .

According to the company the product is the generic version of the fixed dose combination sold by Gilead Sciences globally under the brand name Epclusa .

Epclusa is the first all-oral pan-genotypic single tablet regimen for the treatment of adults with genotype 1-6 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection the BSE filing said.

The company said the generic drug is priced at Rs 18 500 for a bottle of 28 tablets in India.

Natco has signed a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences Inc. to manufacture and sell generic versions of its chronic hepatitis C medicines in 101 developing countries the company added.

--IANS
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