Pune-based mid-sized pharmaceuticals company, Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd, has bagged an order from the government of Thailand for supplying clopidogrel, the generic version of blockbuster cardiac drug, Plavix. Earlier this year, the Thai government had decided to invoke compulsory licenses given to generic firms to manufacture various life saving drugs of multinational pharmaceuticals companies including $6.5-billion Plavix.
As per the agreement, Emcure will supply generic clopidogrel to the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO), company owned by the Thai government. According to reports, two million pills will be delivered within two months by Emcure. The deal will save Thailand about 138 million baht ($4 million). Apart from Emcure, four generic players also participated in the bid. GPO chairman Wichai Chokevivatana is reported to have said that the imported clopidogrel will cost only one baht (3 US cents) per tablet, much cheaper than the current market price of 70 baht ($2) each.
Last month, leading PE investor, Blackstone Group had invested $50 million in Emcure Pharmaceuticals.
About 350 out of 1 lakh people are heart patients in Thailand. Each year, Thailand imports 20 million pills of clopidogrel, which only 20% of Thai patients can afford.
Another Indian pharma player, Cipla, is also in talks with GPO officials to enter into a deal for supplying copycat versions of HIV/AIDS drugs, Efavirenz and Kaltera. Lopimune (lopinavir + ritonavir), Cipla?s copycat version of Kaletra, costs 40-50% lower than the innovative drug.