Glenmark Pharmaceuticals said it has launched antiviral drug
Favipiravir, under the brand name FabiFlu, for the treatment of patients
with mild to moderate COVID-19 at a price of about Rs 103 per
tablet.FabiFlu is the first oral Favipiravir-approved medication in
India for the treatment of COVID-19, it said in a statement.
"This drug was already being used in Japan for influenza. They have been
using it in COVID-19 patients also. Even China was using it and Russia
had also given permission in May to use it. Antiviral drugs like
Remdesivir and Favipiravir are not specific to COVID-19 but were being
used for influenza," said Dr Vikas Maurya, Director, Department of
Pulmonology and Sleep Disorders, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh.
He said studies found that there was some benefit of Favipiravir in
COVID-19 treatment and that is why it has now been launched in India as
well.Dr Maurya said with COVID-19 cases rising, the launching of the
drug comes as a relief.
"It is not a magic bullet as it is not the only thing we have to give.
This is not a specific drug made for COVID-19 and has been found to be
useful, but how much it will be useful we will have to see. Real
efficacy will be known when administered on a large scale," he told PTI.
"Best thing is that it is an oral drug, while Ramdesiver is an
intravenous drug. It (Favipiravir) can be even taken at home. So even if
it is giving some benefit, it will be quite useful," Dr Maurya said.
Noted city-based lung surgeon Dr Arvind Kumar said he does not believe
that any of these antiviral drugs like Remdisiver or Favipiravir will be
game changers.
"If at all ''game changer'' can be used, it is for dexamethasone which
has shown a significant reduction in mortality and is available
cheaply," he said.There are so many medications available and
Favipiravir will also help some patients, added Dr Kumar, who works at
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
The Favipiravir drug will be available as a 200 mg tablet at a maximum
retail price of Rs 3,500 for a strip of 34 tablets, Glenmark
Pharmaceuticals said.It is a prescription-based medication with
recommended dose being 1,800 mg twice daily on day one, followed by 800
mg twice daily up to day 14, it added.The tablets are being produced by
the company at its Baddi facility in Himachal Pradesh. The drug will be
available both through hospitals and the retail channel, Glenmark said.
