COVID-19: Zydus Cadila Gets Emergency Use Approval For ‘Virafin’

New Delhi: Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) on Friday approved restricted emergency use of Zydus Cadila’s ‘Virafin’, Pegylated Interferon alpha-2b (PegIFN) in treating moderate COVID-19 infections in adults.

The approval follows promising results from a late-stage study of the drug, and comes in the middle of a massive wave of COVID-19 cases in India, which has overwhelmed its health system and left many hospitals short of critical oxygen supplies.

“A single dose subcutaneous regimen of the antiviral Virafin will make the treatment more convenient for the patients. When administered early on during COVID, Virafin will help patients recover faster and avoid much of the complications. Virafin will be available on the prescription of medical specialist for use in hospital/institutional setup,” the company said in a filing.