India approves Roche's antibody cocktail to treat COVID-19

New Delhi, May 06: Expanding its arsenal of drugs, India gave its approval Emergency Use Authorisation for Roche’s antibody cocktail to treat mild to moderate Covid-19 in India. Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) approved this drug after studying the data filed with the U.S regulators and the scientific opinion of the European regulatory panel.

The drug is a cocktail of two antibodies Casirivimab and Imdevimab and it is developed by Roche and Regeneron. The 2 antibodies are synthetically manufactured copies of antibodies that the body produces after an infection. With that approval the antibodies now will be administered for the treatment of mild to moderate coronavirus disease in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age or older, weighing at least 40 kg). It will treat the high-risk patients before their condition worsens.

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Mumbai-based drug maker Cipla will be the distribution partner. Cipla will market and distribute the product in India by leveraging its distribution strengths across the country.

The drug already has similar authorization in the United States and is used in European non-hospitalized patients. It should be noted that former U.S. President Donald Trump had taken the drug when he was tested positive for the Wuhan virus.

While talking about the approval Roche Pharma India MD V Simpson Emmanuel said, "With the increasing number of COVID-19 infections in India, Roche is committed to doing everything we can to minimize hospitalizations and ease pressure on healthcare systems."

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It is a major development in India's battel against the COVID 19. India is dealing with the second wave of COVID-19. In the last 10 days, more than 33,000 Indians have died of COVID-19.

Earlier, Indian drugmaker Natco Pharma has also received emergency use authorization for baricitinib, originally developed by Eli Lilly, to be used with remdesivir to treat COVID-19.