Glenmark Launches Fabiflu To Treat Mild Covid Cases

Oral antiviral drug favipiravir, which is used to treat patients with mild to moderate Covid19 infection, will now be available in the Indian market under the brand name FabiFlu at Rs 103 per tablet.

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals secured the drug regulator´s nod on June 19 to manufacture and market the drug in India. The drug has shown promise in multiple global studies, with reduction in viral load, faster fever resolution, and faster clinical recovery. In India, the drug will be sold at retail chemist outlets as well as hospitals.

This is an emergency use authorisation due to the pandemic situation prevalent in the country and the need for timely treatment. Whenever a doctor prescribes favipiravir, he would have to do so with an “informed consent” from the patient.

Patients with a valid prescription can procure the drug from retail chemists, as many of them may not need hospitalisation.

Sujesh Vasudevan, president (India formulations), Middle East and Africa, Glenmark, said the drug would be made at the company´s Baddi facility in Himachal. The firm will also make the active pharmaceutical ingredients for the drug.

“It will be available in areas close to our manufacturing site immediately, and we expect to make it available across the country within this week,” Vasudevan said.

Commenting on whether he thought the price of the tablet was high at Rs 103, Vasudevan reasoned that the drug would ensure that a patient recovered faster and did not slip into a severe stage of the disease that might require hospitalisation. India is adding over 12,000 cases of Covid19 daily.

Sources: Agencies