COVID-19：IICT develops lab process to produce Favipiravir; signs deal with Cipla
The Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT)
has developed a lab process to produce favipiravir, an anti-retroviral drug considered to be effective against influenza viruses.
Countries such as China, Japan, Russia are using favipiravir in the treatment of coronavirus.
Hyderabad-based IICT,
which comes under the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR),
is now transferring the technology (lab process) it has developed to pharma companies.
“Favipiravir has been used extensively in China and Japan, IICT has developed a lab process to make it into a drug and is in the process of transferring this technology to Cipla,”
IICT director Dr S Chandrasekhar told BusinessToday.In.
Chandrasekhar said the deal with Cipla
was non-exclusive and IICT could offer the technology to other companies.
The Mumbai-headquartered pharma major now has the task cut out to procure raw materials and start production.
Raw materials are required in large quantities as the dosage is high for the drug.
Some of the raw materials will have to be imported from China.