37 pharma firms get FDA nod for azithromycin
AHMEDABAD: More and more pharmaceutical companies are venturing into manufacturing of azithromycin, which along with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is used in the treatment of Covid-19. Since March, Gujarat Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) has granted permissions to 37 firms to manufacture this antibiotic in Gujarat.
“Azithromycin has been included into the standard treatment protocol for Covid-19. As many as 66 product licences have been issued to 37 pharma companies for azithromycin during past two months,” said Dr H G Koshia, commissioner, Gujarat FDCA.
These companies include Vega Biotec, Gujarat Medicraft, Care-well Healthcare, Curis Lifesciences Private Ltd, Galen Pharma, Rusan Pharma and Unimed Pharma Ltd. The demand for the antibiotics has increased as it is used along with HCQ to treat Covid-19 patients across several countries in the world. “Several companies have obtained permissions to cater to the export market,” Koshia added.
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Azithromycin mfg companies
Currently, 629 pharmaceutical companies in Gujarat are engaged in making azithromycin formulations and its raw material (active pharmaceutical ingredient). They have been issued 1,397 product licences till date. Vadodara-based Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd is the leading company in manufacturing azithromycin.
The number of companies involved in making HCQ drug in Gujarat has also jumped threefold in the wake of growing demand of this anti-malarial drug across the world. As many as 68 companies have received Gujarat FDCA nod to manufacture HCQ in the state since the Covid-19 outbreak. Before that, the number of these companies was only 28.
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