Bristol Sends Ripples in Indian Generic Market

Bristol-Myers Squibb India Pvt. Ltd. has send a stunning wave in the Indian Generic Market launching its oral antiviral drug --- Baraclude, generically known as entecavir for a whopping price of Rs. 208 per 0.5 mg tablet. However, in India Bristol has priced the drug lower as compared to other markets. Baraclude is an oral anti-viral therapy specifically designed to block the replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the liver and recently approved by the Drug Controller General of India. Last year, in March 2005 Bristol got USFDA approval for Baraclude and subsequently protected by U.S. Patent # 5,206,244 (the ‘244) which will run through October 18, 2010. Price factor further followed an unprecedented move by Bristol stating that Baraclude will not be available at local chemist stores instead patients would have to fax the prescription to a specific Bristol distribution centre for authentication, and will subsequently delivered at the patient’s doorstep. Baraclude is pre-1995 compound disclosed in the ‘244 patent.