Mint, Delhi HC allows Natco Pharma to sell generic Risdiplam, rejects Roche plea
The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to stop Natco Pharma from selling its generic version of Risdiplam, dismissing a plea by F. Hoffmann-La Roche. The Swiss drugmaker markets Risdiplam in India as Evrysdi, which is used to treat spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness. Roche had filed the lawsuit in early 2024 after learning of Natco’s plans to launch a lower-cost generic version. A division bench comprising justices C. Hari Shankar and Ajay Digpaul upheld a March 2025 single-judge bench order that had denied Roche an injunction. The single bench had cited public interest, noting that SMA is a rare disease and that wider access to an affordable drug would benefit patients who otherwise cannot afford treatment. The ruling paves the way for a far cheaper version of Risdiplam to enter the Indian market. In an April exchange filing, Natco Pharma said it would price the drug at ₹15,900 per bottle, a steep drop from the current price of over ₹600,000 per bottle. The detailed written judgment is yet to be uploaded for review.