Cipla received India permit to sell COVID-19 drug favipiravir

Cipla Ltd has acquired Indian regulatory approval to sell anti-viral drug favipiravir to treat the virus COVID-19, the Cipla told on Friday, as coronavirus infections in the world’s third worst-hit nation show no indication of abating.

The Drug Controller General of India allowed Cipla accelerated approval to create and sell favipiravir to meet the “urgent and unmet” need for COVID-19 treatment opportunities in the country, the company said.

Indian drugmakers, including Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd, are rushing to provide generic versions of favipiravir, formerly developed by Japan’s Fujifilm Holdings Corp as Avigan, for treating influenza.

India reported over 49,000 new cases of the novel coronavirus, with 740 further deaths on Friday, marking the most significant daily surge in cases, as officials in some states opposed of shortages of vital drugs for those hospitalized.

Globally, at present, coronavirus cases have crossed 15.5 million.

Cipla stated it would begin favipiravir as “Ciplenza” in the first week of August, priced at 68 Indian rupees (91 cents) per 200 mg tablet.

Clearly, on Friday, much smaller Indian drugmaker Jenburkt Pharmaceuticals Ltd stated it would begin its version of favipiravir, priced at 39 rupees per tablet.

Glenmark, meanwhile, markets a tablet of favipiravir for 75 rupees, with a patient typically requiring 122 tablets over 14 days for a treatment course, the company told. On Thursday, Glenmark said its version of the drug had shown promise in a late-stage clinical trial.