TEHRAN, Sep. 08 (MNA) � Deputy health minister has reported on the entry of home-made Hepatitis C drug to the country�s pharmaceutical market next week noting that it has been produced by Iranian knowledge-based companies.

�The Sofosbuvir drug is used to treat hepatitis C cases; previously it was imported from other countries and priced at $100 per tablet but the indigenous version will be available at the price of 10 dollars per tablet,� said Reza Malekzadeh at a press conference on knowledge-based companies reminding that, �in terms of quality, this drug fully complies with foreign ones and there is no difference in terms of efficiency or treatment of the disease.�

He also reported the production of two other combination drugs to treat hepatitis C in the country adding that they are currently at laboratory stage and will soon be released. �There are now drugs that can treat hepatitis C and there exists the possibility of eradication of the hepatitis C virus in the country in near future; hepatitis C has a three-month course of treatment and patients should take one tablet per day for full treatment,� added Malekzadeh.

Stressing the importance of supporting knowledge-based companies in the health sector, deputy health minister concluded that, �by supporting these companies we will be able to produce low-cost drugs for a variety of diseases, especially cancer, in the country and make it available to our patients.�

By Mehr News Agency