Nov 11 2023, 08:54
Shark Tank attraction Cuban's online pharmacy;and Indian farmacy:
Most of the large Indian pharma companies earn a big chunk of their revenue by supplying drugs to the US market. Shark Tank attraction Cuban's online pharmacy launched last year, which sources medicines directly from manufacturers, holds the promise of catalysing the US businesses of Indian generic drug makers.
The company buys drugs directly from manufacturers, cutting out the middlemen, and sells them on its website with a minimum mark-up on their cost of production.
India is a leading supplier of generic medicines to the world, including the US Most of the large Indian pharma companies earn a big chunk of their revenue by supplying drugs to the US market.
An alternate channel Through the last two decades of its growth in the US market, all Indian generic drug producers have grappled with the disproportionate say that distribution chains and pharmacy-benefit managers (PBMs) have on the pricing of generic drugs.
"If you agree to their terms, the products are available, but if they don't, you are doomed," says a vice president at a mid-sized drug maker.
Consolidation among distributors in recent years has further increased their power. Three players - AmerisourceBergen (now called Cencora), Cardinal Health, and McKesson-dominate the distribution channel, and then there are around 10 other wholesalers.
"Mark Cuban's company can be an additional channel for Indian companies to supply drugs to the US. Once it scales up, it will be good for companies because it will democratise the distribution network, which is currently dominated by three players. While scaling up will take time, this seems to be a step in the right direction," Suresh Subramanian, partner, national life sciences.
Some Indian companies have already started collaborating with Cost Plus Drug.
Take Dr. Reddy's Labs. In June, the Hyderabad-based drug maker signed up an alliance with Mark Cuban's venture and Wilson Disease Association for supply of trientine hydrochloride and penicillamine, crucial treatments for the rare genetic liver disorder.
Dr. Reddy's chose to team up with Mark Cuban to make the drug affordable. A press release from the Wilson Disease Association says the skyrocketing prices of these two drugs, which have been widely available for decades, has meant that many Wilson's disease patients have struggled to afford their medication.
source: et
Nov 11 2023, 08:54