DRUG PRICES JUMP TO $43/KG IN EXPORTS MKT

Drug prices are set to soar on the back of a shortage in raw materials. In the exports market, prices rose from $18 per kg to $43 per kg in June. According to an analyst, the key reason for the price hike is an acute shortage of raw material di-chloro-fluro-Benezene (DCFB), which is imported from China. "Many of the active pharmaceutical ingredient prices have been going up over the past few months," said Jitendra Sharma, CFO, Tasc Pharma, a manufacturer of ciprofloxacin. According to Mr Sharma, the rise in the bulk drug prices will force formulation makers to revise the prices of their brands. The Economic Times (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1178300.cms)