The Hindu : Business : Prices of Vitamin C increased

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Thursday, Nov 27, 2008
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Prices of Vitamin C increased

NEW DELHI: Drug price regulator National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) on Wednesday increased the prices of bulk drugs, including Vitamin C, in response to the demands of the pharmaceutical industry.

The price of Vitamin C (plain) has been revised upwards to Rs. 544 from Rs. 366 a kg, while that of Vitamin C (coated) to Rs. 533 from Rs. 353, the NPPA said in a notification.

Sodium Ascorbate, an intermediary used for making medicines from Vitamin C, will now be costlier by Rs. 200 as its price has been increased to Rs. 575 from Rs. 375 a kg.

Chinese imports

The pharma industry has been demanding revision of prices of Vitamin C as prices of raw materials, which mainly come from China, saw a steep hike in the past few months due to stringent pollution-control measures taken by the Chinese Government.

This led to the shortage of Vitamin C in the Indian market with many firms staying away from producing the drug as it gave them little to nil margins.

Vitamin C is a popular anti-oxidant and is used to treat several common diseases.

Besides increasing the Vitamin C prices, the NPPA also said the price of bulk drug Ibuprofen, used in manufacturing pain killers, has been increased to Rs. 486 from 442 a kg. It has also increased the price of painkiller and fever reducer, Analgin, from Rs. 503 to Rs. 553 a kg. — PTI

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