Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 8
By Khalid Kazimov -- Trend:
A newly developed hepatitis C drug made in Iran is to reach the country's market next week, Deputy Minister of Health in Research and Technology Reza Malekzadeh said.
He pointed out the drug will be offered for one tenth of the price of similar imported drugs.
While the American version is available in the Iranian market for $100, the Iranian one will be offered at $10, ISNA news agency reported Sept. 8.
The drug is manufactured under the generic name Sofosbuvir.
There are two other hepatitis C drugs undergoing their trial stages in Iran, Malekzadeh said, expressing hope that in near future the three drugs could fully answer the domestic need for hepatitis C drugs.
Iran is now highly capable of producing various drugs as Iranian researchers can use biosimilar methods to reproduce new drugs that are available in the international market.
According to the official, 90 percent of the material used to make drugs in Iran is imported. He said measures are being taken to facilitate the domestic production of raw material for making drugs.
Under international sanctions, Iran has tapped domestic capabilities to meet domestic demand for drugs.
In past years the sanctions caused many hardships for patients, leaving them without drugs in numerous cases.
Edited by CN