India has achieved a groundbreaking feat in the fight against sickle cell anemia, a hereditary blood disorder causing red blood cells to adopt a sickle shape and hinder oxygen transportation. Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals, in line with the Narendra Modi government’s vision to eradicate this ailment, has drastically reduced the price of its key drug by a staggering 99 percent.
The company has introduced the world’s most affordable Hydroxyurea to address this disorder offering the drug at just Rs 600 for every 100 ml. This price cut is significant when compared to the current import cost of around Rs 77,000 for global brands. Hydroxyurea, primarily used as a chemotherapy medication for certain types of leukemia, also proves beneficial for individuals with sickle cell disease. It helps maintain the roundness and flexibility of blood cells, resulting in smoother blood flow and improved oxygen delivery throughout the body. Consequently, this leads to reduced pain and fewer hospital visits for patients.
One notable advantage of the Akums-manufactured suspension is its stability at room temperature, unlike its global counterpart that requires storage at 2-8 degrees Celsius. Headquartered in Delhi, Akums functions as a pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), producing a wide range of products for leading drugmakers such as Cipla, Dabur India, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories and Sun Pharmaceutical among others.
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The drug will be available through Akums and other pharmaceutical companies under different brand names. The company’s official spokesperson mentioned, “We will distribute it both directly and through pharmaceutical companies. This is a significant decision currently under discussion.” Their aim is to ensure widespread availability of the medication in the Indian market at an affordable price.
Sickle cell anemia poses a significant health concern, with treatment costs reaching exorbitant levels. Patients endure severe pain, and the annual mortality rate from this disease continues to rise. Addressing this challenge has been an ongoing struggle for both the medical and pharmaceutical sectors. As the disease is more prevalent in tribal areas, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya commended the firm for producing the most affordable medicine.
“Many congratulations to you for developing a medicine to combat sickle cell disease. PM @NarendraModi ji had launched the Sickle Cell Anemia Eradication Mission by 2023. This medicine will prove to be a boon, especially for our tribal sisters, brothers, and children, and we will soon free India from sickle cell,” the minister tweeted on social media platform X.
The company claims that its research and development team has been tirelessly working for the last two years to reduce the drug’s price. When asked about other drugs in the pipeline with potentially slashed prices, the official spokesperson stated that the company is indeed working on reducing the prices of multiple drugs. “Our research and development team and product teams are dedicatedly working on several drugs. The pricing of medicines is determined under the guidance of the price regulator, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA),” they explained.
The company’s R&D team is currently focused on several rare diseases, including sickle cell anemia, for which the Hydroxyurea oral suspension has been developed. Additionally, they have recently launched a nasal spray in their pharmaceutical line and are also concentrating on nutraceuticals, with innovative gummies and liquid orals already launched in this category.
