Gujarat has doubled the production of 'wonder drug' Hydroxychloroquine, by the three largest drug manufacturer company

A pharmacist shows a bottle of the drug hydroxychloroquine on Monday, April 6, 2020.
(Photo: Ben Margot)

Gujarat's three largest drug manufacturer companies will double the production of hydroxychloroquine’s active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) by next month.

40 crore tablets by next month
As of now, a total of 20 crore hydroxychloroquine medicines have been produced from 40 tons of APIs. The pharma companies are now planning to increase it to 40 crores by pro producing twice the amount of APIs, at 80 tons.

The move comes as the demand for the ‘wonder drug’ increases amid Coronavirus scare, the Gujarat state board of the Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA) told Pharmbiz. The ingredients thus prepared shall be available for domestic sales and export.

Given the surge in demand by the US, India had initially imposed a partial ban on the export of the drug. But, after the US President Donald Trump had threatened retaliation for clamping the exports, India relented. It exported 35.8 lakh tablets of hydroxychloroquine and 9 tons of APIs to the US.

The US aside, over 30 countries — including Sri Lanka, UAE have been urging India to export its anti-malarial This is despite the fact that the drug has no clinical proof of being a sure shot cure.