Dr Reddy's to manufacture baricitinib for Covid treatment

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd entered into an agreement with Eli Lilly and Company for the manufacture and commercialization of baricitinib in India. The drug is used in combination with remdesivir for the treatment of Covid-19 in hospitalized adults requiring supplemental oxygen and invasive mechanical ventilation.

Hyderabad: Pharma major Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd on Wednesday announced that it has entered into a royalty-free, non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreement with Eli Lilly and Company for the manufacture and commercialization of baricitinib in India.

The drug baricitinib has received restricted emergency use approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), Ministry of Health, India, for use in combination with remdesivir for the treatment of suspected or laboratory confirmed Covid-19 in hospitalized adults requiring supplemental oxygen, invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

This partnership comes at a critical juncture in the fight against the pandemic in India and adds to the company's existing range of Covid-19 therapeutics covering the full spectrum from mild to moderate and severe conditions of the disease, and a vaccine, the Hyderabad-based company said.

"From the start, we have been determined to explore every possible avenue against COVID-19. Our collaboration with Lilly will help us make yet another treatment option available to patients in India," said Deepak Sapra, Chief Executive Officer, API and Services, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories.

Early this week, Eli Lilly signed similar agreements with major companies like Cipla Ltd., Lupin Ltd. and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd for the manufacture as well as the distribution of baricitinib in India.

Growing number of Covid-19 cases

India saw a record rise in COVID-19 deaths with 4,205 fresh fatalities taking the country's death toll to 2,54,197, while 3,48,421 new coronavirus infections were reported, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

The total tally of COVID-19 cases in country now stands over 2.33 crore.

The active cases have reduced to 37,04,099 comprising 15.87 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 83.04 per cent, the data updated at 8 am showed.

(With Agency Inputs)