Sun Pharma Awaiting Regulator Nod To Launch Covid-19 Drug In India

Molnupiravir is the first oral antiviral approved by the UK Medicines and Healthcare

products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Covid

-19 in adults, and is under review by the US Food and Drug Administration

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oral therapy. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) is currently reviewing

clinical data of molnupiravir for the treatment of Covid-19 in adults in India, and is

expected to give the nod over the next few days.

At present, antiviral drugs in use in Covid therapy such as remdesivir, are

administered intravenously, and in hospital settings.

Molnupiravir, the antiviral therapy of Merck Sharpe Dohme (MSD) and its partner

Ridgeback, has shown promise in the treatment of mild-to-moderate Covid-19 in

adults, having nearly halved the risk of hospitalization. Earlier this year, MSD had

signed licensing agreements with five generic companies including Sun Pharma to

manufacture and supply molnupiravir in India, and to over 100 low and middleincome countries.

Molnupiravir is the first oral antiviral approved by the UK Medicines and

Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for the treatment of mild-tomoderate Covid -19 in adults, and is under review by the US Food and Drug

Administration.

Kirti Ganorkar, CEO of India Business, Sun Pharma said: “In line with our

consistent efforts to accelerate access to new drugs for Covid-19 treatment, we

are gearing up to make Molxvir available to patients and healthcare providers

across India at an economical price, post approval by DCGI. Molxvir will be

manufactured at one of our plants in India and we have enough capacity to meet

the demand.”

Further, the US government is stockpiling 1.7 million treatment courses of

molnupiravir, at about $700 per patient.

However, it is expected to cost at a fraction of the global cost in India, with certain

domestic companies including Optimus Pharma manufacturing the raw materials

in the country. Health experts say it could be priced around $20 for the five-day

course here.

Significantly, the first generic version perhaps globally of molnupiravir was

launched recently media reports indicate in Bangladesh at about $33 per course.

“While Merck is expected to charge $700 for a five-day treatment course of

molnupiravir, a new independent study by researchers at Harvard University has

estimated the sustainable generic price for a treatment course to be $20. Indian

generic manufacturers competing with one another are expected to launch the

drug after emergency use approval in India for less than $15 per treatment course,

as the drug is not yet patented in India – this is a full 46 times less than what

Merck plans to charge’’, a statement from medical humanitarian organisation