Bhubaneswar: Glenmark Pharmaceuticals on Saturday launched antiviral drug Favipiravir, under the brand name FabiFlu, for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.
FabiFlu is the first oral Favipiravir-approved medication for the treatment of COVID-19, the company said in a statement. The Mumbai-based drug firm had on Friday received manufacturing and marketing approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).
The Chairman and Managing Director of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Glenn Saldanha said FabiFlu has demonstrated an encouraging response suffering from mild to moderate COVID-19 during clinical trials. Since it is orally administered, the drug is a more convenient treatment then intravenous medications, he added.
Claiming that FabiFlu will be available for the patients across the country shortly, Saldanha said it will cost Rs 103 per tablet. The recommended dose will be 1,800 mg twice on day one, followed by 800 mg twice daily upto day 14.
The leading pharmaceutical company of India had developed the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and the formulation for FabiFlu through its in-house research team. It had then filed for clinical trial of the drug with DCGI and became the first pharmaceutical company in India to receive approval for conducting phase 3 clinical trial on mild to moderate COVID-19 patients.
Also Read: COVID Fight: Drug Watchdog Okays Favipiravir For Clinical Trials In India
