According to Fitch Solutions- an American Credit rating agency, India will become the largest global hub for COVID19 based antiviral generic drug production post the granting of emergency-use authorization by the drug controller, to several pharma companies in the country. This would allow such companies to manufacture and at the very same time market generic versions of Molnupiravir.
With an increase in the level of access to the drug (Molnupiravir), a subsequent control in terms of hospitalizations and deaths in the country can be expected up to a manageable level as infections due to the Omicron variant still continue to rise, the agency added in its report.
The companies granted with authorization by the Drugs Controller General of India include giants like Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Torrent Pharmaceuticals, Cipla, Sun Pharma, Natco Pharma Viatris, Hetero Drugs and Mankind Pharma, to name a few. The Molnupiravir drug which is also known as Lagevrio, was developed by Merck & Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and is the first-ever oral antiviral drug for the treatment of high-risk adults with mild to moderate COVID-19.
In the coming weeks, companies like Cipla, Sun Pharma and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories are expected to release Molnupiravir capsules with other companies following suit. In the report, it has been stated that the efficacy of the drug has been tested during its MOVe-OUT Phase III trials and that a reduction in hospitalizations and deaths by 50 has been witnessed in early-stage infections. The safety concerns however still continue to torment due to the drug inducing harmful mutagenesis and would create potential COVID-19 strains if prescribed globally.
Generic versions of Molnupiravir will increase access in India and other low and middle-income countries (LMICs), while easing out current supply chain hurdles. The cost of these versions would cost between USD 18.79 (about Rs. 1,400) to USD 21.48 (about Rs. 1,600) as compared to the costs in the US which range around USD 712 (Rs. 52,909). Furthermore, these oral antiviral drugs would subsequently lead to lower costs of transport and distribution compared with COVID-19 intravenous antivirals such as Ronapreve (Casirivimab/ Imdevimab) or Verklury (Remdisivir).
