Medilytix Bureau:
Pharmaceutical company Dr Reddy’s Laboratories on Tuesday launched antiviral drug molnupiravir at a price of Rs 35 per capsule. The pharma company said that the “affordably-priced” molnupiravir capsules 200mg will be launched under the brand name Molflu across India.
“Dr Reddy’s Molflu™ will be priced at Rs 35 per capsule with 10 capsules contained per strip, and the total course of 40 capsules over 5 days costing Rs 1,400 making it among the most affordable treatment options available to patients,” Dr Reddy’s Laboratories said in a statement.
Earlier this year, Dr Reddy’s had entered into a non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreement with Merck Sharpe Dohme (MSD) to manufacture and supply molnupiravir to India and over 100 low and middle-income countries (LMICs). A consortium of pharma companies, led by Dr Reddy’s, collaborated to jointly sponsor, supervise and monitor the phase III clinical trials in India, and presented its findings to the Subject Expert Committee (SEC).
Last week, Dr Reddy’s received emergency-use authorisation from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to manufacture and market the oral anti-viral drug molnupiravir capsules 200mg for treatment of adult patients with COVID-19, with SpO2 above 93 per cent and who have high risk of progression of disease, including hospitalisation or death.