Omkar Speciality files patent for hepatitis C drug raw material

Omkar Speciality Chemicals has filed a patent for the key critical intermediate required for producing ledipasvir - a drug used for the treatment of hepatitis C. This patent application covers the process for preparing an intermediate of the drug. Omkar Speciality Chemicals will have the first mover advantage because of the already filed patent. The process technology which will be adopted will make the company manufacture the product at a highly competitive cost.
 
India’s leading pharma companies such as Cipla, Cadila and Ranbaxy will be manufacturing the drug ledipasvir to cater to the huge Indian and international markets. In India alone, around 12-18 million patients are estimated to be infected with hepatitis C, which is several fold greater than those with HIV/AIDS according to published reports and the worldwide market size is in value is expected to be $ 14.9 billion. According to World Health Organization (WHO) there are 170 million carriers of hepatitis C virus (HCV).
 
Omkar Herlekar, director, Omkar Speciality Chemicals, said, “Omkar Specialty will manufacture the intermediate required for the drug exclusively in India. Patent is already filed for the critical intermediate. This will substantially bolster the topline and bottom line of the company, since the patented product will ease the dependence of import substitute.”