CHANDIGARH: H1N1’s indigenous vaccines are expected to hit the Indian market by March this year at half the price of the imported ones. Dr VM Katoch, director-general, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and secretary to the Government of India, department of health research, made an announcement on Thursday while interacting with the media.
Dr Katoch was in Chandigarh to inaugurate the new academic session of PGI. Dr Katoch informed that there were four pharmaceutical companies, including Zydus Cadila and Panacea Biotec, which are in advanced stage of research. He said Zydus Cadila had already completed human trials, while Panacea was conducting animal trials.
`We are 15-days ahead of the schedule and will introduce the vaccine as early as possible,’’ said Katoch adding that government of India is negotiating on vaccine prices keeping in view community need.
The prices of indigenous vaccines would be in range of Rs 50-100, in contrast with imported ones which cost Rs 300-400. The imported vaccine will be made available for public health workers by the January-end, said Dr Katoch. He informed that the government was trying to make regulatory clearance for research easier for pharma companies so that they do not have to run from pillar to post.There is also a thrust to transform research into products and make it available to public.
source:indiatimes.com
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