INDIA BUSINESS WORLD - 16^th SEP - TO - 15^th OCT - 2009

STRIDES ARCOLAB LAUNCHES SWINE FLU DRUG

Pharmaceutical firm Strides Arcolab has said that it has launched its anti-swine flu drug 'Starflu'. Strides Arcolab has launched Starflu capsule, the cure for swine flu, the pharma firm said in a filing to BSE. Starflu is the generic version for Tamiflu-Oseltamivir and is available at all licensed pharmacies at a maximum retail price of Rs 460 for a bottle of 10 capsules, it further said. "Strides has the requisite stocks of Starflu to adequately supply and service the retail demand for this drug," Strides Arcolab president Nitin Ghadiyar said. The company's move is subsequent to the Indian Government's approval of restricted retail sale of Oseltamivir (tamiflu) for H1N1 treatment, it added. Shares of Strides Arcolab were trading at Rs 175.05 on BSE, up 6.87% from previous close.