Insight Bureau: UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on Thursday approved the world’s first pill to treat symptomatic COVID-19 patients.
The health regulators said the antiviral Lagevrio (molnupiravir), originally created to treat flu was found to be safe and effective at reducing the risk of hospitalisation and death of COVID-19 patients.
Molnupiravir, prescribed twice a day to vulnerable patients recently diagnosed with COVID-19 after it proved effective in clinical trials.
Indian bulk drugs manufacturer ‘Optimus Pharma’ is seeking domestic regulatory approval to produce a generic version of molnupiravir.
Once receives approval, the Hyderabad-based company can produce 80 million capsules in a month, said D. Srinivasa Reddy, managing director of Optimus Pharma.