The government has approved two new vaccines and an anti-viral drug for safeguarding people against Covid-19 even as the highly infectious Omicron variant spreads.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare gave approvals for Corbevax and Covovax vaccines, and anti-viral drug Molnupiravir, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted. The approval is applicable for restricted use in emergency situation.
Corbevax is India's first indigenously developed receptor-binding domain protein sub-unit vaccine against Covid-19, made by Hyderabad-based firm Biological-E Ltd.
Covovax, a nanoparticle vaccine, will be manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India under licence from U.S.-based Novovax Inc.
The anti-viral drug Molnupiravir, developed by Merck & Co. and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP, will be manufactured by 13 companies in India for restricted use under emergency situation for treatment of adult patients with Covid-19 and who have high risk of progression of the disease.
Cipla Ltd. received emergency use authorisation to launch oral anti-viral drug Cipmolnu (Molnupiravir 200 mg) in India. Molnupiravir is the first oral antiviral approved by the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Covid-19 at high risk of developing severe disease. The drug is used for the treatment of non-hospitalised patients with confirmed Covid-19 globally
Cipmolnu will be available at all leading pharmacies across the country.
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