With India calling out for help during the dreaded second wave of coronavirus nationwide, Eli Lily and Co. has come forward to support the decreasing medical supply count of COVID-19 treatment in the country.
The American pharmaceutical company has reportedly inked licensing agreement with Indian generic drugmakers, including Sun Pharma, Cipla, and Lupin Ltd., to increase the accessibility of baricitinib drug in the country to facilitate the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
Apparently, these agreements are likely to boost India’s drugs portfolio to combat the deadly second wave of coronavirus, which has resulted in a grave deficiency of emergency medicines and supplies including tocilizumab and remdesivir.
An Eli Lilly official, in a statement, mentioned that baricitinib has been provided restricted emergency use approval by India’s drug supervisor for use in combination with remdesivir for treating hospitalized and serious COVID-19 patients requiring supplemental oxygen.
Importantly, Lilly had in November last year received an FDA nod for emergency use of baricitinib in combination with remdesivir to treat the coronavirus patients.
Speculations have it that the pharmaceutical giant is all set to donate 400,000 tablets of baricitinib, to be used with remdesivir, to the Indian government to bring about a significant reduction in the rate of mortality in the country.
Reports suggest that the agreements are likely to expand the profile of COVID-19 drugs and treatments offered by India’s leading drugmakers.
Speaking on the noble initiative, Luca Visini, MD at Lilly India quoted that more licenses to additional Indian generic drugmakers are anticipated to be announced soon, considering the surging cases and degrading medical condition of the country.
It would be pivotal to note that a smaller Indian drugmaker, Natco Pharma also announced its plans of requesting an essential license based on emergency approval for its proprietary version of the baricitinib drug.
Source Credit: https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-cipla-make-sell-eli-lillys-baricitinib-treat-covid-19-2021-05-10/