Bengaluru-based biotechnology giant, Biocon, announced on Monday that it was to launch a COVID-19 drug for patients with moderate to severe symptoms of coronavirus infections. It claimed that it was the first company in the world to launch a drug for those with moderate to severe COVID-19 symptoms. It got the DCGI’s approval for its 25mg/5mL injection, which works to reduce the effects of the cytokine release syndrome in order to treat critically ill patients. It is to be priced at ₹ 8,000 per vial, and with the requirement of each patient being 4 vials per dosage, the treatment is said to cost ₹ 32,000.
Speaking about this new drug, Biocon’s CEO Kiran Mazumdar Shaw said, “Until the vaccine comes, we certainly need life-saving drugs. I think what we are doing across the world is to see how we can either repurpose drugs or develop new drugs to treat this pandemic.” She added that since there is a possibility of reinfection even assuming the development of a vaccine by the end of this year, a state-of-preparedness is necessary to combat the effects of this infection.
When asked about the steps the company is taking to ensure the availability of the drug, Mazumdar-Shaw said: “Alzumab is already in the market, we will be supplying to hospitals as per protocol against a medical prescription and patient consent form. Currently, there is a huge demand and Biocon wants to ensure Itolizumab first reaches those patients who need them the most”.
This drug is touted to be manufactured at the company’s biotech manufacturing facility in Bengaluru in the form of an intravenous injection.