Government to Launch Key TB Drug Rifampicin this Year

By the end of this year, India will commence domestic manufacture of Rifampicin, a first-line anti-tubercular medicine. According to official sources, “Rifampicin is at an advanced stage of execution and is expected to get commissioned later this year.” The move is expected to help India lessen its overdependence on imports and secure continuous supplies of critical anti-tubercular drugs. In FY 2023-24 alone, the imported Rifampicin was valued at Rs 77 crore.

The expansion of production goes beyond Rifampicin, as some key corticosteroids, including Prednisolone, Betamethasone, and Dexamethasone, are also scheduled for commissioning this year. These steroids are widely used for treating asthma, immune disorders, and premature labour. Securing domestic supplies of these medicines is crucial since they are part of the National List of Essential Medicines. Natural Biogenex Private Limited is setting up manufacturing capacities of 10 to 15 metric tons per annum at Tumkur in Karnataka under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, generating a domestic supply worth over Rs 150 crore and boosting India's pharmaceutical self-reliance.

Given India’s reliance on imports for many fermentation-based pharmaceutical products like Penicillin-G and Clavulanic Acid, this initiative is a crucial step toward Atmanirbharta in pharmaceuticals. The PLI scheme has already enabled 34 projects, attracting investments of Rs 4,200 crore to expand the production capacity of essential Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and Key Starting Materials (KSMs). Strengthening domestic manufacturing will help India secure supply chains for essential medicines while reducing dependency on imports.