Amid rising cases of new Covid variant Omicron in the country, about a dozen of pharma firms, including Torrent, Cipla, Sun Pharma, Dr Reddy’s, Natco, Mylan, and Hetero, are all set to launch Covid antiviral drug Molnupiravir with a price range between Rs 1,399 and Rs 3,000 for a five-day course for mild to moderate infection.
An expert panel of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation had last week approved Molnupiravir for restricted use in emergency situations. It is an antiviral medication that inhibits the replication of certain RNA viruses. It is used to treat Covid-19 in those infected by SARS-CoV-2.
The recommended dose of Molnupiravir 800 mg is twice a day for five days. A patient needs to take 40 capsules containing 200 mg of medication. Molnupiravir, developed by MSD and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, is also the first oral anti-Covid pill approved by UK’s drug regulator. The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has also cleared Molnupiravir for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Covid-19 in adults, and for those who are at a high risk to severe disease.
Siources said Cipla, Sun Pharma, and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories are expected to release Molnupiravir capsules in the coming weeks. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories will launch Molnupiravir capsules 200mg under brand name Molflu at Rs 35 per capsule. 10 capsules contained per strip, and the total course of 40 capsules over 5 days will cost Rs 1,400, said a representative from the pharma company. Mankind Pharma plans to launch Molnupiravir at Rs 35 per capsule by next week and the full treatment of Molulife (brand name) will cost Rs 1,400 while Cipla intends to market Molnupiravir under the Cipmolnu brand name. Cipmolnu 200mg capsules will be available in leading pharmacies and Covid treatment centres across the country in the near future.
Majority of companies had entered into a non-exclusive voluntary licencing agreement with Merck Sharpe Dohme to manufacture and supply Molnupiravir in India and over 100 other low and middle-income countries.