India's Glenmark launches first oral antiviral drug FabiFlu to treat COVID-19 patients
New Delhi/IBNS: Amid the massive spike in number of cases, India-based pharmaceutical company 'Glenmark Pharmaceuticals' has launched antiviral drug Favipiravir, to be sold under the brand name FabiFlu, for the treatment of patients having mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms.
The company received manufacturing and marketing rights after getting approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Friday.
FabiFlu is the first oral Favipiravir-approved medication for the treatment of COVID-19.
During clinical trials, the medicine has produced up to 88% improvement in mild to moderate coronavirus patients.
-INDIAN 🇮🇳 Company GLENMARK gets the nod for Manufacturing & Marketing of FAVIPIRAVIR under the brand name FABIFLU to treat #COVID Mild & Moderate Patients.
— Dr. Navi 🇮🇳 🥼 (@DoctorPositive1) June 20, 2020
-34 tabs at ₹3500.
-Will be made available at 🥠& chemist shops.
-Will be sold under medical prescription.#coronavirus pic.twitter.com/sZFM3XCjjj
It will be available across the country by early next week, the company said on Saturday.
A pack of 34 oral tablets of 200 mg each will be sold at a cost of Rs 3,500 and the cost of the 14-day treatment will be an estimated Rs 14,000.
“This approval comes at a time when Covid-19 cases in India are spiralling like never before, putting tremendous pressure on our healthcare system,” Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Chairman and Managing Director Glenn Saldanha said.
India has so far registered over 4 lakhs cases of the highly contagious virus including 12,000 deaths.
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