Hetero launches new COVID-19 drug

Hetero, a pharmaceutical organization has received the approval from the Drug Controller-General of India (DCGI) to manufacture and sell its generic version of Gilead’s Remdesivir for the treatment of patients suffering from the coronavirus in the country.

According to Hetero, the drug is going to be marketed under the brand name Covifor in India. At the moment, the drug is being manufactured at its facility in Hyderabad. Chairperson of the Hetero Group of Companies B. Partha Saradhi Reddy stated that the approval of Covifor (Remdesivir), in the midst of the surge in the cases of coronavirus in the country, can prove to be a game-changer given the positive clinical outcomes.

Sources claim that the product has been authorized for emergency use in a hospital/institutional set up only. It will not be sold through chemists or pharmacies. Instead, Covifor will be made available to hospitals who are treating COVID-19 patients. The operations are expected to begin in a week as soon as the drugs reach the hospital. As per sources, each 100 mg vial is likely to be priced between ₹5,000 and ₹6,000.

On the other hand, Cipla Pharmaceuticals, a Mumbai-based company has also launched remdesivir under the brand name Cipremi. Cipla plans on marketing and supplying the drug through both government and open market channels. Cipla stated that it will commercialize remdesivir through its own facilities and partnered sites.

In other news, Glenmark has also introduced the drug favipiravir to treat COVID-19. Patients suffering from mild to moderate symptoms of the COVID-19 can use this drug to get themselves treated. The company has further said that it has received authorization from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (DGCI) to manufacture and sell the drug in order to treat the patients. The drug is said to be available in the market at a rate of around ₹103 per tablet.