Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd launches a drugs for COVID-19, and would begin a clinical trial in India to test a combination of these two anti-viral drugs, favipiravir and umifenovir, as a potential treatment.
In present situation,
all over the world is in search of vaccine and medication to fight back against
the corona virus, which has infected 5.5 million people globally, killing more
than 345,000, according to a Reuters tally. In India, now among the 10 most
affected nations, the death toll reached 4,167. And the success of this trial would take Glenmark
pharmaceutical to next level and world will get a breathe of relief.
Glenmark has been successful in securing the approval of Indian regulatory for conduct of the study. The study will aim to enroll 158 hospitalized patients with moderate COVID-19.
Favipiravir is made under the brand name Avigan by Japan's Fujifilm Holdings Corp and was approved for use as an anti-flu drug in 2014 in Japan, while umifenovir is licensed as a treatment for some types of flu infections in Russia and China.
Generics drugmaker
Beximco (AIM: BXP and fellow Bangladesh-based Beacon Pharmaceuticals have
developed version of favipiravir. Although the drug is patented in Japan,
according to Beximco, Bangladesh could market and produce favipiravir until
2033 under the relaxed guidelines of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Glenmark is also conducting clinical trials in India of just favipiravir as a potential COVID-19 treatment, for which it expects results by July or August. However Favipiravir is also undergoing trials in other countries.
These two antiviral drugs have different mechanism of action, and their combination may demonstrate improved treatment efficacy, the Mumbai-headquartered drugmaker stated.
Another Indian drugmaker - Strides Pharma - is also set to begin clinical trials of favipiravir as a potential COVID-19 treatment.
Shares in Indian drugmakers have been on a tear this year. India's Nifty pharma index has risen 18% this year, compared with a 26% slide in the blue-chip NSE Nifty 50.
Glenmark is also conducting clinical trials in India of just favipiravir as a potential COVID-19 treatment, for which it expects results by July or August. However Favipiravir is also undergoing trials in other countries.
These two antiviral drugs have different mechanism of action, and their combination may demonstrate improved treatment efficacy, the Mumbai-headquartered drugmaker stated.
Another Indian drugmaker - Strides Pharma - is also set to begin clinical trials of favipiravir as a potential COVID-19 treatment.
Shares in Indian drugmakers have been on a tear this year. India's Nifty pharma index has risen 18% this year, compared with a 26% slide in the blue-chip NSE Nifty 50.
But still the
question remains the same, will the drug prove itself efficacious, and will
we be able to find the treatment, and will the world find peace again from
this pandemic?
Note: This news is confirmed by Economic times India.
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