Ahmedabad: During the second wave of Covid, residents have a hard time to buy amphotericin B, the first choice drug to treat mukormycosis or black mushrooms.
Studying lessons from this situation, Gujarat has given permission to a dozen pharmaceutical companies to produce anti-fungal drugs.
What stands out between them, according to the FDCA country, is Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Sun Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Lyka Labs Limited, Swiss Parentarals Ltd.
HG Koshia said, “The administration of food control and medicine Gujarat has published as many as 19 licenses to a dozen companies since May 2021 to produce amphotericin B – in the form of liposome injection and emulsion – in Gujarat.” Amphotericin B is an anti-fungal drug which is usually injected into a vein and is used to treat serious fungal infections, may be fatal and leishmaniasis.
In India, it is also used as a drug choice for treatment of mucormycosis (especially post-covid complications).
Mucormycosis is a rare but potentially fatal infection if not adequately treated.
While some companies have begun to make this medicine, some others are in the process of doing so.
“Emcure has been given a license to make amphotericin in its factory in Gujarat and production has begun,” said Samit Mehta, President-Operations, Emcure.
“Until now, 54,000 units per month are produced from plants in line with the current order.
We will continue to produce quantity as needed to meet the challenges faced by India in the current pandemic scenario,” added Mehta.
Ahmedabad-based Pharmaceutical Intas cannot start production due to a short supply of key excipients (DSPG-Na).
“Shipping is now expected in 2.
August based on it, we will be able to produce drugs in the second week of August and provide 1,600 units at the end of the month,” said a spokesman.
The entry of more companies will help create adequate supply of anti-fungal drugs.
A quick surge in the incidence of black mushrooms in Covid patients during the second wave of pandemic raises a major challenge for the country and various countries wrestling with deficiency of amphotericin B.
Data recently submitted in Rajya Sabha on July 20 shows that India notes that India 45.374 COVID infection case 19-mucormycosis.
Maharashtra (9,348 cases) and Gujarat (6,731) only contributed 35% of cases registered in India.
“Gujarat is also the largest producer of bulk drugs or raw materials for Amphotericin B.
One company has produced it in the state and other pharmaceutical major recently obtained permission to make it,” Koshia added.