Natco Pharma Surges 6% After Delhi High Court Clears Sale of Roche’s SMA Drug Risdiplam in India

Natco Pharma shares rallied over 6% on October 10 after the Delhi High Court dismissed Swiss pharma major Roche’s appeal, allowing the Indian company to sell its generic version of the spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) drug Risdiplam in India. Roche had challenged a March 2025 single-judge order that denied its plea for an injunction to block Natco from marketing the drug domestically. The High Court, however, upheld the earlier ruling, stating that public interest and drug affordability outweighed the patent claims in this case. The single-judge bench had earlier highlighted that life-saving therapies must remain accessible, observing that Roche’s high pricing made the drug inaccessible to a majority of Indian patients. It also noted the validity challenges to Roche’s patent, paving the way for Natco’s generic launch. Following the verdict, Natco Pharma announced the immediate launch of its Risdiplam generic in India at an MRP of ₹15,900 per pack, with additional discounts for deserving patients under its patient access programme. Market Performance: Natco Pharma’s stock hit an intraday high of ₹864.80, before paring gains to trade 3% higher at ₹841 around 1:20 PM. The stock has risen over 8% in the past six months, though it remains down nearly 40% in 2025. Currently, the shares trade at a P/E ratio of 8.6, 42.5% below the 52-week high of ₹1,505 hit in December 2024, but have recovered about 19% from their 52-week low of ₹726.80. Analysts believe the court’s ruling could strengthen Natco’s position in the domestic pharma market, where affordability and accessibility play a key role in driving volumes for critical therapies. Hashtags: #NatcoPharma #Risdiplam #Roche #DelhiHighCourt #PharmaNews #GenericDrugs #HealthcareAccessibility #SMA #IndianPharma #StockMarket #DrugAffordability #NatcoShares