The Hindu Business Line : Cipla to develop generic version of bird-flu drug

CIPLA is going full-steam ahead in developing a generic version of Relenza, the other drug apart from Tamiflu, known to be effective in treating bird-flu.

The Chairman and Managing Director of Cipla, Dr Yusuf Hamied, said today that his company had started research on Zanamivir, sold globally by GlaxoSmithKline Plc under the brand name Relenza.

Governments across the world are stockpiling these two drugs to be prepared, in the event of an outbreak.

The efforts of generic drug makers like Cipla assumes significance, as Roche (the company marketing Tamiflu) and GSK are unable to meet the requirements of countries across the world.

Dr Hamied said that he was upbeat on Zanamivir, as compared to Tamiflu (Oseltamivir), which was the drug preferred worldwide. But both drugs are difficult to develop and both are faced with a shortage of their respective raw materials, he said. The raw material for Zanamivir, for instance, sells at $3,500 (Rs 1,60,055) per kilogram, he added.

Zanamivir is a pre-1995 product and hence would not come under the ambit of the existing product-patent regime in India, according to Dr Hamied. This would mean that drug companies looking to make the generic version of the drug would not be drawn into issues related to patents on the drug.

Marketed by GSK, Relenza (Zanamivir) is developed by Australian firm Biota Holdings Ltd. But globally, it has not been as popular as Tamiflu since it has to be inhaled.

The development on Zanamivir comes even as Cipla is in the process of developing a generic version of Tamiflu, marketed by Roche. Cipla has got a response from Roche and would be meeting its representatives "soon", he said.

In the case of Tamiflu too, Roche holds the exclusive marketing rights on the drug originally developed by Gilead Sciences and the two are at present involved in a spat over the drug, he pointed out.

"We are going to manufacture the active ingredient in the drug and store it in the godown and pray to God that it is not used," Dr Hamied said. But should there be a need, Cipla would be in a position to supply the drug in India and other countries where Gilead-Roche's patents don't apply, he said.

He indicated that Cipla would be willing to pay a royalty, about four per cent to the innovator of the drug.

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