Cipla Ltd had received Indian regulatory approval to sell anti-viral drug favipiravir to treat COVID-19, Cipla stated on friday, as coronavirus infections in the world’s third worst-hit nation has been showing no signs of abating.
The Drug Controller General of India had granted Cipla accelerated approval to make and sell favipiravir in an effort to meet the “urgent and unmet” need for COVID-19 treatment options in the country, the company said. ( Source: : India Today)
Numerous Indian drugmakers, including Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd have been racing to supply generic versions of favipiravir that had been originally developed by Japan’s Fujifilm Holdings Corp as Avigan for treating influenza.
India has reported over 49,000 fresh cases of the novel coronavirus with 740 new deaths on Friday, hence marking it as the biggest daily surge in cases, as officials in some states complained of shortages of vital drugs for those hospitalized.
Worldwide, coronavirus cases have crossed 15.5 million mark.
Cipla had also stated that it would launch favipiravir as “Ciplenza” in the first week of August, priced at 68 Indian rupees (91 cents) per 200 mg tablet.
Separately on Friday, much smaller Indian drugmaker Jenburkt Pharmaceuticals Ltd said it would launch its own version of favipiravir, priced at 39 rupees per tablet.
Meanwhile, Glenmark has begun selling a tablet of favipiravir for 75 rupees, with a patient typically requiring 122 tablets over 14 days for a treatment course, the company said. On Thursday, Glenmark said its version of the drug had showed promise in a late-stage clinical trial.
