Bengal Chemicals gets license to produce hydroxychloroquine

Kolkata, Apr 10 () City-based Bengal Chemicals andPharmaceutical Company on Friday received the license toproduce hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug that isbeing touted as 'game changer' in the fight against theCOVID-19 pandemic, a top company official said.

The Drug Controller General of India allows BengalChemical to produce 200mg and 400mg hydroxychloroquinetablets, company Managing Director PM Chandraiah said.

"We are ready to do the formulation without any profitas a gesture to fight covid-19," Chandraiah said.

The company can produce 10 lakh tablets a day and canramp it up to 15 lakhs, he said.

"But, the question is raw material. The government hasto arrange raw materials or active pharmaceutical ingredients(API). We have failed to arrange it from our end," Chandraiahsaid.

"We can start manufacturing in 2 days after receivingraw materials," another company official said. BSMNN NN