Last Updated on March 20, 2022 by The Health Master
The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) has granted licences to 19 Indian pharmaceutical firms to manufacture and commercialise the generic version of Paxlovid, Pfizer’s oral antiviral C-19 pill.
These include, among others:
- Cipla,
- Sun Pharma,
- Laurus Labs,
- Divi’s Laboratories,
- Glenmark,
- Emcure,
- Macleods,
- SMS Pharmaceuticals,
- Strides,
- Torrent,
- Cadila,
- Biocon,
- Aurobindo Pharma,
- Hetero,
- Granules,
- Amneal,
- Viatris.
MPP is a United Nations-backed public health organisation that is working to increase access to life-saving medicines for low- and middle-income countries.
MPP had previously entered into a licence agreement with PF Prism Holdings BV (Pfizer), granting it the rights to sub-license manufacture and commercialisation rights to sub-licensees.
Pfizer’s Paxlovid comprises nirmatrelvir, which inhibits a SARS-CoV-2 protein to stop the virus from replicating, and ritonavir, which slows down nirmatrelvir’s breakdown to help it remain in the body for a longer period at higher concentrations.
Paxlovid is administered as three tablets (two tablets of nirmatrelvir and one tablet of ritonavir) taken together orally twice daily for five days.
It is a prescription-only drug and should be initiated as soon as possible after the diagnosis of C-19 and within five days of the onset of symptoms.
Torrent Pharmaceuticals, Cadila Pharmaceuticals and Aurobindo Pharma confirmed on Thursday that they had received licences from MPP.
“We are pleased to enter into this agreement with MPP and is part of our continued endeavour to make C-19 treatments as accessible as possible to patients,” said Aman Mehta, executive director of Torrent Pharmaceuticals.
Cadila said it would cater to the Indian and export markets since many countries with high C-19 burden lacked access to effective therapy.
“We are pleased to partner with MPP to make a generic version of Paxlovid for the global community and contribute towards reducing the health burden due to the pandemic,” said Rajiv Modi, chairman and managing director of Cadila Pharmaceuticals, in a statement.
The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has authorised the use of Paxlovid to treat high-risk mild-to-moderate C-19 in adults and children over 12 years of age and weighing at least 40 kg.
“We are excited to work on this molecule and will soon make it available commercially at an affordable price for these markets after due process of registration and approval in various countries including DCGI in India,” said Nithyananda Reddy, managing director of Aurobindo Pharma.
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