Well known Pharma manufacturer Lupin Ltd. on Wednesday announced the launch of generic ‘favipiravir’ under the name ‘Covihalt’ for treatment of those to develop mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19. The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has given authorization to favipiravir for emergency usage. The Covihalt dosage has been designed by keeping the convenience of administration in mind. The drug is available at the rate of Rs. 49 per tablet in the form of a strip of 10 tablets of 200 mg.
The President of the India Regions Formulations (IRF) Rajeev Sibal has stated that COVID-19 is a global pandemic and India is currently witnessing a surge in cases on a daily basis and during such difficult times, it is their duty to support the country in every way possible to fight the virus and ensure availability of affordable drugs for affected patients.
He believes that ‘Covihalt’ is a crucial step in this direction and that they can leverage their expertise in managing widespread community diseases like TB to proactively reach patients across India and make sure that ‘Covihalt’ is accessible through their network of distribution and field force. Giving his opinion on this development, National Secretary, Indian Chest Society Dr Rajesh Swarnakar has said that it is imperative, during such pandemics, to enforce rapid health management efforts which include disease control through safe and effective medication. “Favipiravir has shown excellent results in the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19. We remain optimistic about its indispensable role in combating the disease”, he further said.
