Glenmark begins Phase 3 trials of antiviral drug Favipiravir to check efficacy on COVID-19 patients in India
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals on Tuesday said
it has initiated Phase 3 clinical trials on antiviral drug Favipiravir to check its efficacy on COVID-19 patients in India.
The Mumbai-based company
had received approval from Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) last month to conduct clinical trials of Favipiravir antiviral tablets for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals
is the first company in the country to initiate Phase 3 clinical trials on Favipiravir for COVID-19 patients in India, it said in a statement.
Glenmark begins Phase 3 trials of antiviral drug Favipiravir to check efficacy on COVID-19 patients in India
Favipiravir is a generic version of Japan-based Fujifilm Toyama Chemical’s Avigan. Image credit: Reuters
Clinical trials
have commenced and over ten leading government and private hospitals are being enrolled for the study, it added.
Glenmark estimates study completion by July-August 2020, it said.
As per the approved clinical trial protocol,
150 subjects with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms will be randomised in the study in a 1:1 ratio to Favipiravir with standard supportive care or standalone standard supportive care.
Treatment duration is a maximum of 14 days and the total study duration will be a maximum of 28 days from randomisation.
Several health and medical experts, both in and outside of Glenmark are eager to see the effect that Favipiravir has on COVID-19 cases.
We believe the study results will be significant as there is currently no effective treatment for the virus,” Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Vice President & Head Clinical Development, Global Specialty/Branded Portfolio Monika Tandon said.
The data we get from these trials will point us in a clearer direction with regard to COVID-19 treatment and management, she added.
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