Three cos bag Rs 92-lakh swine flu drug order

NEW DELHI: Ranbaxy Labs, Hetero Drugs and Strides Acrolabs have together bagged orders to supply 92-lakh capsules of generic or low-priced version of swine flu drug Tamiflu. Last month, the government had said it would procure two crore capsules for treating swine flu to control the spread of the disease in the country. Of these, Hetero had earlier bagged order to supply one crore.

Bangalore-based Strides Acrolabs has bagged the biggest order. The company said on Tuesday it would supply 74-lakh capsules. Ranbaxy and Hetero have bagged orders to supply nine lakh capsules each to the government. The medicine would be supplied at Rs 270 per 10 capsules of 75 mg, people familiar with the development said. The three companies are expected to supply the drugs in the next few days.

One of the persons familiar with the development said the government is looking to float a fresh tender for additional stock, but health ministry officials on Tuesday said there are no immediate plans to do so.