Hyd Plays Vital Role in R&D of Oral Medication for Covid19

Hyderabad: Due to immense human resource and infrastructure in Pharma sector, Hyderabad played a vital role in research and development of the oral antiviral (first oral medication for Covid-19 based on Molnupiravir) is expected to hit the drug stores by next month. While the oral pill has received a lot of attention for its therapeutic promise in reducing hospital stay and death risk among Covid patients.

There are multiple Hyderabad based pharma companies who have either completed or in the middle of conducting phase 3 clinical trials of Molnupiravir. In fact, city based Hetero and Natco Pharma have already approached the regulatory bodied seeking permission to market the drug after completing the third phase of the clinical trials across the country.  

Another Pharma giant from city Dr. Reddy’s is collaborating with US-based merck and Co., who are the innovators of Molnupiravir and conducting phase 3 clinical studies while the researchers from Hyderabad based MSN Pharmaceuticals are also conducting phase 3 trials of the drug in more than 40 sites on 2,400 subjects across the country. 

Natco and Hetero already approached the drug regulator Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), seeking permission to market Molnupiravir. However the DCGI is expected to take a decision in the coming days.

In Hyderabad, the oral anti-viral drug also underwent phase 3 clinical trials at several private hospitals and the trials were conducted successfully and the results are encouraging. .

Apart from clinical trials, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), top chemical research institute from Hyderabad, has transferred manufacturing technology of Molnupiravir by entering into an MoU with Suven Pharmaceuticals and CSIR-National Institute of Inter disciplinary Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram.