Hetero Labs wins approval to sell COVID-19 drug

The drug, priced the drug at $0.79 per tablet, is approved to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 and will be available at drug stores from today, news agency Reuters reported.

Hyderabad based drug maker Hetero Labs has received regulatory approval to sell its generic version of the anti-viral drug Favipiravir to treat COVID-19. The drug, priced the drug at INR 59 ($0.79) per tablet, is approved to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 and will be available at drug stores from today, news agency Reuters reported.

“The generic version is being manufactured at our world-class formulation facility in India, which has been approved by stringent global regulatory authorities such as USFDA and the EU, among others, Hetero said in a statement.

An oral anti-viral medication, the product has demonstrated positive clinical outcomes. Favivir improves treatment accessibility to a significant amount of COVID-19 patient population, which usually sustains mild to moderate symptoms, it added.

Favipiravir is the second drug developed by Hetero after remdesivir, also used in the treatment of COVID-19. Favipiravir was originally developed by Japan's Fujifilm Holdings Corp under the brand name Avigan for treating influenza. Hetero is also among the drugmakers that have a license with US-based Gilead Science Inc to make remdesivir.