Natco Pharma To Price Generic Risdiplam At ₹15,900 In India

 India’s Natco Pharma Ltd. on Tuesday said it will price its generic version of spinal muscular atrophy drug Risdiplam at ₹15,900 once it gets legal clarity from the appellate bench of the Delhi High Court.

The case stems from a patent dispute with Swiss drugmaker F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, which markets the original under the brand name Evrysdi. In March, the Delhi High Court dismissed Roche’s plea for an interim injunction against Natco, noting that public interest outweighed the company's arguments on patent exclusivity. The court highlighted the high cost of the drug and the importance of access to affordable treatment for a rare, debilitating disease.

Roche has since appealed that decision, and the appellate bench has ordered a status quo until further hearings conclude. The next hearing is scheduled for April 10, and Natco has said it will wait for the outcome before launching the drug.

As per an exchange notice, the company has disclosed plans to offer discounts through a patient access programme, aiming to expand affordability for eligible patients. The generic, once cleared for sale, is expected to significantly lower treatment costs for spinal muscular atrophy in India, where the branded version can cost several hundreds of thousands per month.