COVID -19 drug ready in India: All you need to know about the new coronavirus medicine Favipiravir

Scientists around the world are trying to find a vaccine because of the growing spread of the coronavirus. Mumbai-based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has received approvals from Drug Controller General of India to manufacture and market Favipiravir, an anti-viral drug, to treat Covid-19 patients.

The drug is likely to be available in the market in the next few days. What is this drug and what improvement has it shown in Covid-19 patients?

According to the company, in addition to infected patients, the drug can also be given to people suffering from diabetes and heart disease. The drug will be available in tablet form. This can reduce the extra burden on hospitals.

Glenmark claimed that Favipiravir shows clinical improvements of up to 88 per cent in Covid-19, with rapid reduction in viral load by four days. The drug will be available as a prescription-based medication for Rs 103/tablet, with recommended dose being 1800 mg twice daily on day 1, followed by 800 mg twice daily up to day 14.

In India, a randomised multi-centre study was done on Indian patients to test the drug’s efficacy and safety with standard of care vs standard of care alone in mild to moderate Covid-19, the company said. The study enrolled 150 patients. The study’s details are yet to be published in a peer-reviewed paper.

As per the information given by the company regarding the production of this drug, this drug will be made available to 82,500 patients. The company is preparing to increase production of the drug during the epidemic.

The drug is being manufactured at Ankleshwar in Gujarat. Production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) is underway. These drugs are also being manufactured in Himachal Pradesh. The drug will be supplied to various COVID-19 hospitals.

DGCI has given permission for the manufacture and marketing of this drug. The use of this drug may make it easier to treat coronavirus patients which will also help reduce mortality.

The company's drug has shown a ray of hope in the Corona epidemic. Experts hope that better days will come soon. Initially, the company's exports will be considered after meeting the needs of patients in the country, experts at the company said.