Glenmark Becomes the First Pharmaceutical Company in India to Receive Regulatory Approval for Oral Antiviral Favipiravir, for the Treatment of Mild to Moderate COVID-19

NEW JERSEY and MUMBAI, India, June 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In a landmark development for COVID-19 patients in India, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, a research-led, integrated global pharmaceutical company, today announced the launch of antiviral drug Favipiravir (brand name FabiFlu®) for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 patients. Glenmark has received manufacturing and marketing approval from India's drug regulator, making FabiFlu® the first oral Favipiravir-approved medication in India for the treatment of COVID-19.

http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/451507/PRNE_Glenmark_Logo.jpg

Commenting on the significance of this development, Mr. Glenn Saldanha, Chairman and Managing Director of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd., said, "This approval comes at a time when cases in India are spiralling like never before, putting a tremendous pressure on our healthcare system. We hope the availability of an effective treatment such as FabiFlu® will considerably help assuage this pressure, and offer patients in India a much needed and timely therapy option."

Glenmark successfully developed the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and the formulation for FabiFlu® through its own in-house R&D team. Most patients exhibiting mild to moderate symptoms can benefit from FabiFlu® use. The drug will be available as a prescription-based medication, with recommended dose being 1800 mg twice daily on day 1, followed by 800 mg twice daily up to day 14.

About Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (GPL) is a global research-led pharmaceutical company with presence across Generics, Specialty and OTC business with operations in over 50 countries. Glenmark's key therapy focus areas globally are respiratory, dermatology and oncology. For more information, visit www.glenmarkpharma.com

References:

    1. https://rdif.ru/Eng_fullNews/5224/
    2. Furtuta Y et al. Antiviral Res. 2013;100(2):446-54.
    3. http://www.kansensho.or.jp/uploads/files/topics/2019ncov/covid19_caserepo
       rt_en_200529.pdf
    4. Cai Q et al. Engineering (Beijing), 2020;10.1016/j.eng.2020.03.007
    5. Chen C et al. MedRxiv. 2020

Logo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/451507/PRNE_Glenmark_Logo.jpg

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/glenmark-becomes-the-first-pharmaceutical-company-in-india-to-receive-regulatory-approval-for-oral-antiviral-favipiravir-for-the-treatment-of-mild-to-moderate-covid-19-301080676.html

SOURCE Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd