Cipla Gets Regulatory Nod To Sell COVID-19 Drug

Cipla has received regulatory approval to sell anti-viral drug favipiravir to treat COVID-19, the drug maker said on Friday, as coronavirus infections in the world's third worst-hit nation show no sign of abating. The Drug Controller General of India 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.

Indian drug makers including Glenmark Pharmaceuticals are racing to supply generic versions of favipiravir, originally developed by Japan's Fujifilm Holdings Corp as Avigan for treating influenza.

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

Globally, coronavirus cases have crossed 15.5 million.

Cipla said it would launch favipiravir as "Ciplenza" in the first week of August, priced at Rs 68 (91 cents) per 200 mg tablet.

Separately on Friday, much smaller Indian drug maker Jenburkt Pharmaceuticals said it would launch its own version of favipiravir, priced at Rs 39 per tablet.

Glenmark, meanwhile, sells a tablet of favipiravir for Rs 75, 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.

($1 = Rs 74.7997)