Local chemicals to be used in containing coronavirus!

In a conversation with ETV Bharat, Dr. Raji Reddy and Dr. Pradham S. Mayankar - Senior Principal Scientists of the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) - who played a key role in creating Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) for five globally recognised drugs for coronavirus treatment said that they are confident that the drug APIs would cross all its procedural stages and be made available in the domestic market very soon.

Hyderabad: Scientists from Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) - a national-level research centre located in Hyderabad - have succeeded in creating Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) for five globally recognised drugs in the treatment of corona. It is to be specifically mentioned that local chemicals available in the country are being used in manufacturing drugs for domestic purposes. Scientists, Researchers and Research students in the country, have been working along with specified technologists, day and night, for about two months now. Senior Principal Scientists of IICT, Dr. Raji Reddy and Dr. Pradham S. Mayankar played a key role in this research. The two shared their progress with ETV Bharat.

Here is the full text of their statement:

• We have begun a study on the extent as to which the drugs that are used to treat Ebola, influenza and other viral infections also work on the coronavirus. Five drugs identified by the World Health Organization focused on the development of molecules related to Favipiravir, Remedicivir, Umifenovir, Bolaxavir, Chloroquine / Hydroxychloroquine.
• We have already developed the API of drugs that have been found to work on COVID in the laboratory. For this, we use locally available chemicals without the need of depending on imports for raw materials. We have developed a cheaper production process. As a result, the price of the drug is also very low.
• Favipiravir is a generic drug. Within six weeks of making the API, we have made progress. We have developed the API in other ways and transferred the technology to a pharmaceutical company. The company contacted the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) which recommended it for launch tests before being brought into the market. We have developed the process of making intermediates (the next stage of raw materials) for the manufacture of drugs like Remedicavir and Umifenovir. We are in the process of transferring these technologies to some other pharmaceutical companies.
• We are confident that various drug APIs developed by IICT to be used in the treatment of the COVID virus, will cross all its procedural stages and be made available in the domestic market very soon. Favipiravir is one of such drugs that is expected to reach the open market soon. It is based on the launch tests and DCGI recommendations before it can enter into the market. We are confident that if the results of the launch tests prove to be successful, the drug may be available in the market within a time period of one to two months.