Antiviral drugs see demand surge in India, but segment declines 5.5%

With the pandemic raging across the world, the demand for antiviral drugs — especially those used for treating influenza or HIV — have shot up  as they are being tested as potential cures for Covid-19.

Data from market research firm AIOCD-AWACS shows that sales of oseltamivir (common brand Tamiflu), used against the influenza virus and also for swine flu, went up by 35.8 per cent in April on a year-on-year (YoY) basis.

Similarly, drugs like tenofovir and its combinations (anti-HIV drugs) have seen significant traction. Domestic sales of the much touted combination of lopinavir and ritonavir grew over 50 per