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Generic medicines are approximately 97% cheaper than their branded counterparts, the organisation said. In a separate statement, Sasthravedhi leaders pointed out that the branded version of risdiplam, manufactured by Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche, costs approximately Rs 6 lakh. While Natco sells the medicine for approximately Rs 15,900, Kerala govt is procuring it at around Rs 8,000, the statement said.
However, the organisation said that when medicines labelled “For Physician Sample” or “Clinical Trial” were supplied to patients, the authorities should have communicated clearly to address their concerns. Natco Pharma has obtained court permission to manufacture a generic version of the drug, subject to prescribed quality standards, they said. Sasthravedhi also said the generic medicine had received approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), with generic medicines being governed by applicable regulatory requirements and scientific quality standards.
Emphasising that timely access to risdiplam is crucial to improving the quality of life and life expectancy of SMA patients, the KSSP state committee described the health department’s decision to procure a low-cost generic version of the drug, manufactured by Indian pharmaceutical company Natco Pharma, as a welcome and exemplary step. Such affordable alternatives offer significant relief to SMA patients who are not covered by govt schemes. KSSP also dismissed as unscientific and baseless the arguments questioning the quality of generic medicines, particularly claims concerning their bioavailability. The substantial reduction in cost could help expand access to treatment for more patients.