3 Times Cheaper Insulin And Hepatitis B Vaccine In India

2016-10-16 11:06:22

Credit: vaccineliberationarmy.com

Credit: vaccineliberationarmy.com

Presently hepatitis B vaccines ranges between Rs 45 (Serum Institute) and Rs 250 per paediatric dose of 10 microgram in 0.5ml. The cost of adult dose of 20 microgram is nearly double, reports TOI. While, Insulin costs varies from Rs 140 to Rs 325 per injection.

If everything at the Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Chandigarh goes as planned, you can expect a heavy drop up to three times in prices of insulin and hepatitis B vaccines. The scientists at the centre have developed indigenous technology to produce protein based medicines like insulin, streptokinase (clot buster) and the hepatitis B vaccine. 

For the aforementioned medicines, India is dependent on imported and patented technology. Significantly, India is home to the second largest population of diabetes and hepatitis B patients after China.

The newly developed system, known as fission yeast has the potential to produce these medicines at much lower cost. For hepatitis B and diabetics, India has patients around 40 million and over 66 million respectively.

Source: financialexpress.com, businessinsider.in, timesofindia.indiatimes.com/