News Analysis India

Tag: Amphotericin-B drug

  • Govt allocates additional vials of Amphotericin-B to states, union territories for black fungus treatment

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The government on Monday allocated an additional 1,06,300 vials of Liposomal Amphotericin-B, used to treat black fungus infection, to states, Union Territories (UTs) and central institutions, Union Minister Sadananda Gowda said.

    Amphotericin-B is used to treat Mucormycosis, also known as black fungus, which damages the nose, eyes, sinuses, and sometimes even the brain.

    “Ensuring significant availability of Liposomal #Amphotericin B, additional 1,06,300 vials of the drug have been allocated across all the states/UTs and Central institutions today,” the minister of chemicals and fertilisers tweeted.

    He added that another 53,000 vials of conventional Amphotericin-B have been given to states and UTs.

    “A total of 53,000 vials of Conventional #Amphotericin B have also been allocated to all the States/UTs & Central Institutions today,” Gowda said.

    The allocation of the drug is being made to ensure its smooth supply and timely treatment of patients, he added.

    Liposomal formulations are less expensive and have less renal toxicity than simple Amphotericin B.

    Mucormycosis is a very rare infection which is caused by exposure to mucor mould which is commonly found in soil, plants, manure, and decaying fruits and vegetables.

    It affects the sinuses, the brain and the lungs and can be life-threatening in diabetic or severely immuno-compromised individuals such as cancer patients or people with HIV/AIDS.

    There have been an alarming number of cases of Mucormycosis among patients with COVID-19 and those who have recently recovered.

    Doctors believe that Mucormycosis may be triggered by the use of steroids, a life-saving treatment for severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients.

  • Govt allocated additional 19,420 vials of Amphotericin-B to states, UTs: Union Minister Gowda

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The government has allocated additional 19,420 vials of Amphotericin-B to various states, Union Territories (UTs) and Central Institutions on May 24, Union Minister Sadananda Gowda said on Tuesday.

    Amphotericin-B is used to treat Mucormycosis, also known as black fungus, which damages nose, eyes, sinuses, and sometimes even the brain.

    “Additional 19,420 vials of #Amphotericin- B have been allocated to all States/UTs and Central Institutions,” Gowda, who is Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers, tweeted.

    In the latest allocation of 19,420 vials, Gujarat has received 4,640 vials, while Maharashtra has got 4,060 vials.

    Other noteworthy recipients were Andhra Pradesh (1,840 vials), followed by Madhya Pradesh (1,470), Rajasthan (1,430), Uttar Pradesh (1,260) and Karnataka (1,030).

    The government had earlier on May 21, allocated 23,680 vials of Amphotericin-B to various states and Union Territories.

    Mucormycosis is a very rare infection which is caused by exposure to mucor mould which is commonly found in soil, plants, manure, and decaying fruits and vegetables.

    It affects the sinuses, the brain and the lungs and can be life-threatening in diabetic or severely immuno-compromised individuals such as cancer patients or people with HIV/AIDS.

    The doctors in India are documenting an alarming number of cases of Mucormycosis among patients with COVID-19 and those who have recently recovered.

    They believe that Mucormycosis may be triggered by the use of steroids, a life-saving treatment for severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients.

  • Black fungus: Centre to ramp up production, availability of Amphotericin-B drug

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday said the Central government will make proactive efforts for significantly ramping up domestic production of Amphotericin-B drug, an anti-fungal drug for the treatment of black fungus disease.

    “Union Ministry of Health along with Department of Pharmaceuticals and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is making proactive efforts for significantly ramping up domestic production of Amphotericin-B drug,” the ministry said.

    The Union Government has also made effective efforts in supplementing the domestic availability through securing supply from global manufacturers.

    The health ministry said in recent days, several states and UTs have reported an increasing number of patients suffering from COVID complications in the form of mucormycosis, popularly known as a black fungus.

    “There is also a reported shortage of Amphotericin-B, an anti-fungal drug used for the treatment of the black fungus disease,” it said.

    According to the health ministry, there are five existing manufacturers– Bharat Serums & Vaccines Ltd, BDR Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Sun Pharma Ltd, Cipla Ltd and Life Care Innovations of Amphotericin-B in the country and one importer– Mylan Labs.

    “The production capacity of these companies was extremely limited in the month of April 2021. As a result of the handholding by the Government of India, these domestic manufactures will cumulatively produce 1,63,752 vials of Amphotericin-B in May 2021. This will be further ramped up to 2,55,114 vials in the month of June 2021,” the ministry said.

    Apart from this, efforts are being made for supplementing the domestic availability of this anti-fungal drug through import. In May 2021, 3,63,000 vials of Amphotericin-B will be imported, thereby resulting in total availability in the country (inclusive of the domestic production) of 5,26752 vials.

    It said 3,15,000 vials will be imported in June 2021. Hence, along with the domestic supply, the countrywide availability of Amphotericin-B will be enhanced to 5,70,114 vials in June 2021.

    The ministry said five more manufacturers have been given the licence to produce the anti-fungal drug within the country.

    “These are — NATCO Pharmaceuticals, Hyderabad, Alembic Pharmaceuticals, Vadodara, Gufic Biosciences Ltd, Gujarat, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Pune and Lyka, Gujarat,” it said.

    Cumulatively, these companies will start producing 1,11,000 vials of Amphotericin-B per month from July 2021. The Union Health Ministry and the Department of Pharmaceuticals are together trying to proactively facilitate these five manufacturers to prepone some of this production so that these additional supplies begin in June 2021.

    The ministry also said in collaboration with MEA it is also actively exploring other global sources from where the Amphotericin-B drug can be imported.

    “Union Health Ministry is also trying to procure other antifungal drugs which can be used in the treatment of black fungus,” it said.

    The government of India has been supporting states and UTs in procuring drugs and diagnostics for COVID-19 management through a “Whole of Government” approach.