They are expected to submit a weekly production plan to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority , the country's drug price regulator, and the Drug Controller General of India, the apex drug regulator. NPPA said it was allowing Abbott to discontinue the Absorb brand immediately due to safety concerns. "NPPA and DCGI are also empowered to extend these directions to any other producers of coronary stents in India during this three months period," it stated.The department had earlier invoked Section 3 of the Drug (Prices Control) Order, 2013, to ask companies to maintain stent supplies for the six months ended August.Abbott and Boston Scientific had approached the NPPA earlier this month requesting withdrawal of their premium stents. According to industry executives, their stents were priced between.`1.6 lakh and .`2 lakh before they were capped at .`29,600, excluding taxes, in February.While Abbott has been allowed to discontinue Absorb, it has been directed to continue supplying its other highend brand XIENCE Alpine for another year. Boston Scientific, which had sought both withdrawal and higher prices for its 'Promus Premier' and 'Synergy' stents, has been told to approach the regulator after deciding whether it wants to discontinue the products or request a price revision.

Source: Economic Times September 28, 2017 18:56 UTC