Cipla Head Office. (Alyssa Banta/Newsmakers)Mumbai based pharmaceutical giant Cipla has embarked on fast-tracked development of drugs to cure COVID-19 in partnership with Government laboratories, while repurposing its gamut of respiratory, asthma, antivirals and HIV drugs to defeat the spread of COVID-19 in India, reports Times of India.
It should also be noted that Cipla's drug Actemra which is used in treating rheumatoid arthritis was recently approved by China for usage in the treatment of patients with severe complications associated with COVID-19.
Known for many innovations in respiratory, HIV and flu therapy, Cipla's promoter Yusuf Hamied said, "We consider it a nationalistic duty to put up all our resources to benefit the country."
The company, which was one of the first ones to launch a generic cure to H1N1 influenza is now aiming to become the first domestic company to introduce drugs against COVID-19.
The company is presently looking into the production of raw materials with the help of Government laboratories for antiviral compounds like favipiravir, remidesivir and bolaxavir. It should be noted though that the final drugs will take about six months to be launched after the procurement of raw materials (active pharmaceutical ingredients) begins.
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