NPPA directs Macleods Pharmaceuticals to supply antituberculosis drug Rifampicin capsules to CMSS

New Delhi:In a significant move to ensure adequate availability, invoking para 3 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has directed Macleods Pharmaceuticals to supply antituberculosis drug Rifampicin 150 mg and 450 mg capsules to the Central Medical Services Society (CMSS), New Delhi, as per the reported prices/ceiling prices as applicable for the supply of the quantity assigned to the company by CMSS.

This came after the authorities deliberated on invoking para 3 of the DPCO, 2013, on Macleods Pharmaceuticals, for the supply of Rifampicin 150 mg and 450 mg at the 256th authority meeting of the Authority , which is the 124th meeting under the DPCO, 2013, held on June 7, 2024, under the Chairmanship of Shri Kamlesh Kumar Pant, Chairman, NPPA.

Para 3 of DPCO, 2013, states,

"The Government may, -

(i) with a view to achieve adequate availability and to regulate the distribution of drugs, in case of emergency, or in circumstances of urgency or in case of non-commercial use in public interest, direct any manufacturer of any active pharmaceutical ingredient or bulk drug or formulation to increase the production and to sell such active pharmaceutical ingredient or bulk drug to such other manufacturer(s) of formulations, and to direct formulators to sell the formulations to institutions, hospitals or any agency as the case may be;

(ii) for the purpose of giving any direction under sub-paragraph (i), call for such information from manufacturers of active pharmaceutical ingredients or bulk drugs or formulations, as it may consider necessary and such manufacturer shall furnish the required information within such time the Government may fix.

Rifampin, also known as rifampicin, belongs to the antimicrobial class of drugs. Rifampin is used to treat tuberculosis and works by inhibiting the microbial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP).

Rifampin works by binding to the beta-subunit of microbial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP), thereby inhibiting the enzyme and impeding RNA synthesis. It reduces the affinity of RNAP for short RNA transcripts. It has no activity against the mammalian RNAP enzyme.

In the recent authority meeting, the authority deliberated upon the matter in detail and noted the decision of invoking para 3 of DPCO, 2013 to direct Macleods Pharmaceuticals Ltd. for the supply of Rifampicin 150 mg capsule and 450 mg capsule to the Central Medical Services Society (CMSS), New Delhi, as per the reported prices/ceiling prices as applicable for the supply of the quantity assigned to the company by CMSS.

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