COVID Fight: Cipla Wants To Launch Affordable Favipiravir Drug In India

New Delhi: Leading pharmaceutical company Cipla has sought permission to launch Favipiravir, an anti-viral drug, in India to fight against COVID-19.

Sources said the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) had developed an affordable process by using locally available chemicals to synthesise this Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) and then transferred the technology to Cipla for mass production.

Favipiravir has shown promise in clinical trials for treatment of mild and moderate cases of COVID-19 patients, according to a statement by Cipla.

“Cipla has scaled up the process in its manufacturing facility and approached the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for permission to launch the product in India. Given that DCGI has given restricted emergency use for Favipiravir in the country, Cipla is now all set to launch the product to help COVID-19 patients,” the statement added.

CSIR Director General Shekhar C Mande said they are working with the industry in developing quick solutions and products for mitigation of COVID-19.

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