As focus shifts to Covid pills, Indian cos eye affordable antiviral medicine

MUMBAI: With focus shifting to the treatment of Covid-19 through oral pills, domestic companies, including Cipla, Dr Reddy’s, Sun Pharma and BDR Pharma, are eyeing antivirals — including Pfizer’s new drug, Paxlovid. Most of these antivirals are expected to be manufactured in the country and will be available at a fraction of the global prices.

With coronavirus heading to the endemic stage in some countries, the oral pills are expected to get a huge market. Recently, Pfizer announced positive results of Paxlovid, which significantly reduced hospitalisations and deaths. It plans to submit the data for Emergency Use Authorisation in the US soon. “Pfizer is looking to deliver safe and effective oral antiviral therapeutic(s) as soon as possible at an affordable price, subject to regulatory authorisations,” a company official said.

On Tuesday, the US-based firm tied up with the UNbacked Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) to license the drug in 95 countries, including India. The MPP has invited expressions of interest from generic companies globally and will soon sub-licence the manufacture and sale. Cipla said Pfizer’s antiviral is of interest to the company while Dr Reddy’s remains open to all opportunities. A Sun Pharma spokesperson said: “It is our ongoing endeavour to accelerate access to new drugs for Covid treatment in India and other markets.”

These firms are among ones that have tied up with Merck for its pill, which is expected to be launched at an economical price. Industry experts expect it to be around ?1,200-?1,500 for its fiveday course.