Contributions Indian Pharma Industry to fight against COVID-19

Remdesivir is an experimental drug from drug maker Gilead that has shown to bring down the viral load on patients and hence help in faster discharge. The efficacy of the drug on severe patients is still under study. The drug, intravenously administered in hospitals, has already been approved for emergency use in severely-ill patients in the United States, India and South Korea.

Remdesivir, which previously failed in trials against Ebola, belongs to a class of drugs that act on the virus directly — as opposed to controlling the abnormal and often lethal autoimmune response it causes. It mimics one of the four building blocks of RNA and DNA and gets absorbed into the virus’s genome, which in turn stops the pathogen from replicating.

The drug makers will be required to conduct Phase-IV trials (post treatment) in India to help identify any unforeseen side effects on patients, people familiar with the matter. While all new drugs must undergo trials before getting marketing approval in India, the regulator can grant certain exemptions in public interest and in cases of national emergency, extreme urgency and epidemics.

Zydus Cadila to make Gilead’s potential COVID-19 drug remdesivir:

Zydus, listed as Cadila Healthcare, joins other Indian pharmaceutical companies. As part of the pact, Zydus will get the manufacturing know-how from Gilead to manufacture the active pharmaceutical ingredient for remdesivir and the finished product. Zydus will market it in 127 countries, including India.

Dr Reddy’s signs licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences for remdesivir:

Dr Reddy’s will receive technology transfer from Gilead for manufacturing of this drug and needs to do the manufacturing scale-up and obtain regulatory approval for marketing of this drug in respective countries. In May, four companies, i.e. Hetero, Jubilant Life Sciences, Cipla and Mylan, have earlier entered into non-exclusive licensing agreements.

Coronavirus treatment: Cipla aims for multi-drug portfolio along with remdesivir:

Cipla is among the four companies with manufacturing plants in India that have signed a pact with US-based Gilead for manufacturing of the patented drug remdesivir.

Cipla has approached the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for approval for launching favipiravir in India, it will also conduct a suitable limited trial before marketing the product as ‘Ciplenza’, as per a release by the government institute. Strides Pharma Science is also in the rave to develop and commercially launch Favipiravir tablets for global markets. 

References:

• https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/healthcare/biotech/pharmaceuticals/cipla-hetero-get-nod-to-sell-remdesivir/articleshow/75958389.cms?from=mdr
• https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/pharma/glenmark-pharma-to-study-potential-covid-19-drug-combination/76004935
• https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/coronavirus-vaccine-cipla-aims-for-multi-drug-portfolio-along-with-remdesivir-11589772401207.html
• https://www.expresspharma.in/covid19-updates/dr-reddys-signs-licensing-agreement-with-gilead-sciences-for-remdesivir/
• https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/pharma/indias-zydus-cadila-to-make-gileads-potential-covid-19-drug-remdesivir/76350429
• https://www.indiatvnews.com/business/news-covid-19-drug-ready-strides-pharma-science-favipiravir-exports-avigan-anti-viral-612664
• https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/healthcare/biotech/pharmaceuticals/cipla-hetero-receive-drug-controllers-emergency-approval-for-remdesivir-for-severe-covid-19-patients/articleshow/76485542.cms?from=md
• https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/04/24/world/gilead-coronavirus-drug-remdesivir-fails/#.Xu8aVV0zY2w