Last Updated on July 9, 2020 by Team THIP
Quick Take
A viral message on facebook claims that while FabiFlu, the recently launched medicine by Glenmark Pharmaceuticals for treatment of COVID-19, is priced at Rs. 103 per tablet; Livfavir, manufactured by Livealth Biopharma, is a drug of similar composition and is much cheaper. We investigated and found that though the drug Livfavir was listed initially at a lower price but it was by mistake. The listing has been removed and the viral social media message is mostly false.
The Claim
The Facebook post claims “Fabiflu 200 mg. has been priced at Rs.103 per tablet by Glenmark. After my inquest, I found, already there exists a brand of Favipiravir in the Indian market with the brand name ‘LIVFAVIR’ marketed by a Mumbai based company Livealth Biopharma Private Limited — and a ten tablets strip of Livfavir 200mg. costs Rs.200 — means Rs.20 per tablet (less than 1/5 of Glenmark brand)”
A snapshot of the Facebook post is given below and the archived version of the same can be seen here.
Fact Check
What is FabiFlu?
FabiFlu is a prescription-based anti-viral drug by Glenmark Pharmaceuticals. The main component of the drug is Favipiravir and is approved for the treatment of influenza in Japan. It selectively inhibits RNA polymerase, which is necessary for viral replication. The pricing of FabiFlu in India Rs 3,500 for a strip of 34 tablets i.e. Rs 103 per tablet.
What is Livfavir? Is it cheaper than FabiFlu?
Livfavir a branded drug manufactured by Livealth Biopharma. Like FabiFlu, the generic composition of Livfavir is also Favipiravir.
Is Livfavir cheaper than FabiFlu?
While Livfavir was initially listed at a lower price than FabiFlu, the company has claimed that it was a mistake by their marketing team.
“We were supposed to write Rs.200 per tablet and had received permissions for the product. We, are however not planning to launch or sell this product now or in the future and have pulled out all the advertisements,” Sanjay Patil, the director of Livealth Biopharma told Boom Live.
Livealth Biopharma has also given out an official twitter statement on the same.
Is Livfavir available anywhere, anymore?
The company has claimed to have withdrawn the product completely from market. We have inquired with random Pharmacists in Gurgaon, Bangalore and Kolkata all of whom have confirmed that Livfavir is not available with them. We have checked all major Indian online pharmacies including 1MG, Medlife, Pharmeasy. Livfair is not available there too.
Indiamart, where the medicine was noted to be listed earlier, also has removed the listing.
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