Price war rages as pharma firms despatch Covid-19 antiviral pill

Competitive pricing among firms keeps rates at Rs 1,400-2,490 for full treatment

Oral Covid pill Molnupiravir will hit retail stores this week as companies have started despatching the drug all over the country.

Meanwhile, a price war is on among several companies launching Merck’s antiviral drug.

After Mankind Pharma said it would price its Molnupiravir brand Molulife at Rs 35 per capsule, or Rs 1,400 for the full course of 40 capsules (eight capsules a day for five days), as the most “affordable brand” in the market, Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL) on Tuesday launched the drug at the same price.

R C Juneja, chairman of Mankind Pharma, said for some drugs affordability, not profit,