Locally-produced Nimodipine 300mg released to the market

The State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) yesterday released locally-produced Nimodipine 300mg as part of the ‘Aluth Ratata, Aluth Beheth’ program that aims at increasing the local production of drugs from 20% to up to 75%.

While Nimodipine is a calcium channel blocker used to prevent brain damage caused by reduced blood flow to the brain resulting from aneurysm, close to 1.5 million pills are required a year for use in the country.

The drug was imported for Rs. 132 a pill in 2019.  However, the SPC is able to manufacture the drug for Rs. 57, resulting in savings of Rs. 5 million for the Medical Supplies Division (MSD), Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals State Minister Channa Jayasumana said yesterday.

He added that the SPC reported revenue of Rs. 1 billion in 2020, the highest income in its history, and aimed at increasing revenue further in 2021.

This is the fourth drug produced locally under the initiative, with Gabapentin 300mg, Clopidogrel 75mg and Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate 200mg previously released to the market.