China's API price cuts undermine India's self-sufficiency push

In a move reminiscent of past trade disputes, China appears to have launched a price war on key active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), directly challenging India's push for self-reliance in the pharmaceutical sector.

The ploy, which has seen prices for critical drug components slashed by as much as 50%, is being widely condemned by Indian manufacturers who allege that it is aimed at crippling nascent Indian API plants established under a government-backed initiative, reports The Pharma Letter’s India correspondent.

Indian pharma manufacturers note that Chinese manufacturers have reportedly slashed the prices of 41 specific APIs and key starting materials (KSMs) by 40% to 50%.