Natco to re-launch breast cancer drugNatco to re-launch breast cancer drug

Natco Pharma Ltd. is going to restart the breast cancer drug Albupax in its domestic and global markets quickly.

"The Ministry of Health remained termination of our license to manufacture drugs from drug controller general of India (DCGI). So we started to manufacture and launch it soon," Mr Bhaskara Narayana, Director of Finance, Natco Pharma, told Business Line.

Natco stopped production, distribution and sale of drugs in July 2009 in leading DCGI which states that the drug can cause liver damage.

Natco, however, argue that the process of testing for drugs should also be considered as Albupax a product based on nano-technology and testing is a complex process.

Natco previously entered into distribution tie-laboratory of Dr. Reddy (NYSE: RDY) Ltd for the sale of drugs in the global markets. "We will run it in our own domestic market, while global sales will be made by Dr. Reddy,''he said. The product was released in the domestic market in September 2008 (11000 rupees tablet).

Albupax can earn an annual income of 200 rupees kror on world markets in the country, although the income may be minor. Coupon Natco increased to 0.76 percent at 131.75 rupees at the end of the BSE on Tuesday.