NATCO wins legal battle to launch generic drug treating severe muscle disorder in infants

NATCO Pharma Ltd has been cleared by the Delhi High Court to launch its generic version of Risdiplam, a critical treatment for a rare genetic disorder that causes severe muscle weakness and is a leading cause of infant death.

The court dismissed Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche’s appeal on Thursday, October 9, removing the legal hurdle for NATCO to make the drug available in India.

Risdiplam is a drug used to treat Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a rare and debilitating genetic disorder that is one

of the leading causes of infant mortality due to neuron degeneration.

The single judge of the Delhi High Court had earlier, on March 24, 2025, denied Roche’s plea for an injunction against NATCO, citing the invalidity of Roche’s patent and emphasising public interest, as the original pricing made the drug largely inaccessible to Indian patients.

NATCO plans to launch Risdiplam immediately at an MRP of ₹15,900, while also providing discounts for eligible patients through its patient access programme, the exchange filing said.

NATCO, headquartered in Hyderabad, is a science-driven pharmaceutical company specialising in generic and specialty medicines, oncology therapies, and limited-competition molecules in the US, operating 9 manufacturing sites and 2 R&D facilities across India.

Shares of NATCO Pharma Ltd ended higher on Thursday, October 9, by 0.67% at ₹814.45 on NSE.

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