Sumi Sukanya dutta ByNEW DELHI: Hopes have risen for the approval of the first Covid-19 antiviral drug in India with two drug makers reaching the regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, with phase 3 clinical trial data of molnupiravir and seeking marketing authorisation for the pill. Being called very promising in treating the coronavirus infection, the drug reportedly clears viral infection in about five days in mainly mild cases, preventing many people from progressing to a severe disease state. “The Indian companies have submitted data from the phase 3 clinical trials of the drug and the subject expert committee on Covid19 is soon going to consider their applications,” a senior CDSCO official told this newspaper. In India, five companies had entered into voluntary licensing agreements to produce generic versions of this drug. Molnupiravir, like remdesivir, is a nucleoside analogue, which means it mimics some of the building blocks of RNA.

Source: Indian Express October 31, 2021 04:35 UTC