Risdiplam Price Disparity in India vs China, Pakistan: SC Issues Notice to Roche
It was submitted that why can't the Indian government negotiate with Roche to make the medicine for the rare disorder available at a cheaper rate.;
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court has sought to know from Roche whether its drug Risdiplam, used to treat the rare disorder Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), can be made available at a lower price in India, especially when it is supplied to neighbouring countries like Pakistan and China at cheaper rates.
A bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan sought to know the response of the drug manufacturer after it was told by the counsel, appearing for a 24-year-old woman, suffering from a Group III rare disease — SMA, that the drug was being sold at a cheaper rate by M/s. F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, the drug manufacturer, then in India.
The bench ordered;
“Keeping in view the nature of the controversy, we deem it appropriate to issue notice to M/s. F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., the manufacturer of the drug, Risdiplam, which may be served through…This Court shall be informed, on the next date of hearing, the price fixed for the aforesaid drug in neighbouring countries. If the price is lower than in India, the Court shall also be informed as to whether the drug can be supplied at the same lower price in India also."
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