Indian Pharma to launch generic antiviral Covid-19 pill
Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, an Indian drug maker, will launch its generic version of Merck’s antiviral COVID-19 pill, molnupiravir, priced at $0.4693 per capsule, a company spokesperson said.
The overall cost for a patient treated with a 5-day course of 40 capsules of the generic drug, to be sold under brand name ‘Molflu’, will come up to $18.77. In comparison, the treatment with Merck’s pill in the United States costs $700.
“Molflu is expected to be available from early next week in pharmacies throughout (India) with particular focus on states with high caseload of COVID-19,” the company spokesperson from Dr Reddy’s said.
India last week gave emergency use approval to molnupiravir along with two vaccines, as the country braces for a possible spike in coronavirus cases due to the rapidly spreading Omicron variant. Molflu is expected to be available from early next week in pharmacies in India.
