Cipla Limited on 25 March 2015 launched generic drug of Sofosbuvir under the brand name Hepcvir for treating Hepatitis C.
The drug will be available in Indian market till the end of March 2015. The availability of product in other markets is subject to approvals from the regulatory authorities in the respective countries.
Cipla is one of the seven Indian pharmaceutical companies that have been allowed by US-based Gilead Sciences to manufacture and market generic of drug Sofosbuvir. The non-exclusive license agreement in this regard was signed between Gilead Sciences and Cipla in September 2014.
In third week of March 2015, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories entered into an agreement with Hetero Drugs Limited to distribute and market generic version of US firm Gilead Sciences’ Hepatitis C drug under the brand Resof.
Sofusbuvir marks a new era of medicines in oral treatment of Hepatitis C, which reduce the need for injectables.
In India alone, around 12-18 million patients are estimated to be infected with Hepatitis C, which is several fold greater than those with HIV/AIDS.