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List of COVID-19 drugs from India

 



We are witnessing COVID19 pandemic since September 2019, when China first imposed lockdown and then every country had to do this because of growing number of cases and mortality. 

Since January, scientists all over the world are trying to develop a vaccine or cure against this deadly virus but there is no hope yet.,

Here we are providing a list of drugs from India that are being considered for COVID-19 treatment with upto date status.

Note: This article does not endorse any drug/therapy for COVID19 or any other condition. To date, there are no specific vaccines or medicines for COVID-19. Treatments are under investigation, and will be tested through clinical trials.

Favipiravir

Patent (holding company) – Expired, generic version of Avigan, a Fujifilm drug commonly used in Japan for the treatment of influenza

Mode of action- oral antiviral drug

Clinical trial- Glenmark’s clinical trial of 150 mild to moderate patients

Contraversies, if any - Cannot be given to patients with severe renal complications, hepatic impairment, pregnant and lactating women, according reports by Fujita Health University, Avigan has failed to show any ability to treat COVID-19.

Authorization by Global regulators – drug not approved in the EU or US, approved in Russia and parts of the Middle East

Authorization by Indian regulators - fast-tracked by Drug Controller General of India Received Emergency Use on 19.06.2020

Companies involved- Glenmark Pharmaceuticals

Price - Fabiflu, at Rs75 / tablet

Itolizumab 

Patent (holding company) – Active, Biocon

Mode of action- humanized IgG1 anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody, earlier approved for the treatment of Psoriasis, handling the hyperactivity of the immune system and managing cytokine storm

Clinical trial- 30 patients’ clinical trial where 20 patients were out on Itolizumab, 10 randomised on standard care.

Contraversies, if any – small sample size, The trial was also open-label without, which means there is good chance that the results were biased towards more favourable outcomes.

Authorization by Global regulators – drug not approved in the EU or US

Authorization by Indian regulators - fast-tracked by Drug Controller General of India received emergency use on 11.07.2020

Companies involved- Biocon

Price - Rs32000 for treatment (Rs8,000/vial)

Dexamethasone

Patent (holding company) - NA

Mode of action- Works as corticosteroid medication. It is used in the treatment of many conditions such as rheumatic problems, a number of skin diseases, severe allergies, asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, croup, brain swelling, eye pain following eye surgery, and along with antibiotics in tuberculosis.

Clinical trial- Clinical trial ongoing – UK’s RECOVERY Trial

Contraversies, if any – N.A

Authorization by Global regulators – U.K and U.S. issued an emergency use authorization 

Authorization by Indian regulators - “off-label” drug for COVID-19 severe cases

Companies involved- Several

Price - below Rs 10 and is Rs. 2/ tablet

Remdesivir

Patent (holding company)- Upto 2035, Gilead Sciences

Mode of action- anti-viral drug, earlier tried on Ebola

Authorization by Global regulators- Hospital-only, Injectible drug, 

Authorization by Indian regulators Has Emergency Use Authorisation in India on 01.06.2020 by CDSCO

Clinical trial- The first randomised double-blind study showed no statistically significant treatment efficacy in severe COVID-19 patients. Well-designed clinical trials show Remdesivir to be effective, shown to shorten recovery time & hospital stay but does not reduce mortality. A study published on May 22 – sponsored by NI-

AID – showed that Remdesivir didn’t affect the recovery of Asians.

Contraversies, if any – several like lobbying and money making

Price - $2,340, Rs 5400 for 5 day course

Companies involved- Gilead Sciences, USA; Hetero Pharma(Covifor), India; Cipla(Cipremi), India 

Hydroxychloroquine

Patent (holding company) - NA

Mode of action- Approved as a treatment in mild cases and as prophylactic

Clinical trial- WHO’s SOLIDARITY and UK’s RECOVERY trials show HCQS does not show benefits in treatment

Contraversies, if any - Side-effects like Severe heart arrhythmia

Authorization by Global regulators – USFDA revoked Emergency Use Authorisation, 

Authorization by Indian regulators - India moved the drug out of treatment protocol for severe cases

Companies involved- Several 

Price - Rs. 1 to 10/tablet

Tocilizumab

Patent (holding company) – Active, Hoffmann La Roche

Mode of action- humanized IL-6 receptor inhibitor monoclonal antibody, counter the severe inflammation (cytokine storm) 

Clinical trial- Phase II clinical trial will be carried out 

Contraversies, if any - Can increase the risk of bacterial infections

Authorization by Global regulators – drug not approved in the EU or US 

Authorization by Indian regulators – “restricted use” on severely ill COVID-19 patients on “emergency and compassionate grounds”

Companies involved- Roche Pharma, marketed by Cipla 

Price - Rs 40,545 each/vial

Others

Convalescent Plasma Therapy - Approved as an “off-label” therapy and works best when Given early on in the treatment cycle.

Methylprednisolone - For use as an anti-inflammatory drug, Low molecular weight Heparin, use to  prevent blood clots & thrombogenic response.

Antibiotics - Azithromycin, Ivermectin - To deal with infections.

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