New Delhi: With the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) approving the anti-COVID-19 pill Molnupiravir for emergency use in the country, Drugmaker Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd said that it will soon launch the generic version of Merck's antiviral Covid-19 capsule.
The antiviral pill against Coronavirus will be named as 'Molflu'and will be available at Rs 35 per capsule, a company spokesperson told news agency Reuters adding that the drug will be available in pharmacies of the country from early next week.
The drugmaker has also informed that the overall cost for a patient treated with a 5-day course of 40 capsules of the generic drug will come up to 1,400 rupees ($18.77). The same drug course is available in the United States costs $700.
"Molflu is expected to be available from early next week in pharmacies throughout (India) with particular focus on states with higher caseload of Covid-19," the company spokesperson said.
Molnupiravir is said to be among the cheapest Covid treatment and has been approved by drug regulator for emergency use only in specific cases.
Amid the ongoing surge in daily Coronavirus cases fueled by the new Omicron variant, India last week gave emergency use approval to Molnupiravir along with two vaccines.
American pharmaceutical firm Merck has entered into licensing agreements with eight homegrown drugmakers, including Dr Reddy's, to produce generic versions of Molnupiravir and supply it to several low- and middle-income nations.
Pharma companies such as Strides, Dr Reddy's, Sun Pharma, Cipla, Hetero, Torrent and Optimus have received approvals to manufacture and market their versions of Molnupiravir - an oral medication for Coronavirus treatment.
Earlier, Dr Reddy's had said it is able to manufacture the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) as well as the formulation for Molnupiravir. It also claims to have made adequate capacity preparations to ensure that it is able to help patients in India as well as in patient populations in need around the world.