Centre asks drug manufacturers to increase production of amphotericin B to treat Black Fungus Disease

“A sudden increase in demand has been observed in some states for amphotericin B which is being actively prescribed by the physicians to patients suffering from mucormycosis, a post-covid complication. The Government of India is therefore engaging with the manufacturers to ramp up production of the drug. The supply position is expected to improve with extra imports of this drug and increase in its production domestically," the department of pharmaceuticals said in a statement on Wednesday.

The department has reviewed the stock position and demand pattern for amphotericin B and allocated the drug to states and Union territories based on the estimated supply till May 31.

The Centre has also directed the states to set up a mechanism to ensure equitable distribution of the drug to all hospitals where covid-19 patients are undergoing treatment.

State have been also asked to spread information about the ‘point of contact’ for these hospitals from where they can obtain the drug from the state’s quota.

The supply of the amphotericin B drug will be monitored by the National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA), the regulatory body responsible for drug price and availability, said the department..

According to data on NPPA’s website, Bharat Serums and Vaccine, Wockhardt, Abbott Healthcare, United Biotech and Cipla are some of the manufacturers of the drug.

Demand for amphotericin B has spiked in the last few weeks as more and more cases of mucormycosis were reported, which is a rare infection seen in some patients who are on medication for covid-19 or recovered from it.

According to experts, the rare infection caused by a group of moulds called "mucormycetes" and affect people with weak immune systems or having commorbidities or those who have been taking immunosupressants.

An ill patient may inhale the moulds present in the air which may then enter the sinus cavities, lungs, chest cavities and brain, causing complications.

Symptoms of the infection included headache, fever, pain under the eyes, nasal or sinus congestion and partial loss of vision. Facial deformity is a charecteristic feature when the disease spreads in the body.