Another drug for treatment of COVID-19 patients soon to be launched in India

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Jul 24, 2020 at 9:52 AM Updated On : Jul 24, 2020 at 9:53 AM

Bhubaneswar: In what could be a positive sign in the fight against COVID-19, leading multinational pharmaceutical company Cipla will soon come up with Favipiravir, an off-patent anti-viral drug, developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

The COVID-19 drug, originally discovered by Japan’s Fuji Pharma, has shown promise in clinical trials for treatment of COVID-19 patients, especially in mild and moderate cases, said an official statement.

New coronavirus commonly found in rodents identified

Intensity of third Covid wave would be lesser, says ICMR’s top scientist

CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) developed a cost effective process using locally available chemicals to synthesise this Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) and transferred the technology to Cipla.

“Cipla has scaled up the process in their manufacturing facility and approached the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for permission to launch the product in India. Given that DCGI has given restricted emergency use for Favipiravir in the country, Cipla is now all set to launch the product to help COVID-19 patients,” the statement added.

CSIR-IICR Director S Chandrashekhar said the technology is very efficient and makes it affordable and allows Cipla to make large quantities of the product within a short period.

CSIR Director General Shekhar C Mande said they are working with the industry in developing quick solutions and products for mitigation of COVID-19.