Cipla bags DCGI nod for COVID-19 oral antiviral, all set to launch Cipmolnu in India

Mumbai: Just a day after DCGI gave its Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) nod for COVID-19 antiviral Molnupiravir, Cipla Limited announced today that the company has been granted permission by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for the launch of Molnupiravir in the country.

Molnupiravir is an orally administered form of a potent ribonucleoside analogue that inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. Cipla plans to launch Molnupiravir under the brand name Cipmolnu.

Molnupiravir is the first oral antiviral approved by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 at high risk of developing severe disease . 

The unique mechanism of action of Molnupiravir hits the basic character of the virus leading to an error catastrophe in the intensity of virus replication. This mechanism has got an exclusive potential in reducing the viral load and thereby the intensity of disease manifestation by virus interaction with the cell and the antibody reaction and creation of cytokine storm.

Earlier in the year, Cipla entered into a non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreement with Merck Sharpe Dohme (MSD) to manufacture and supply Molnupiravir in India and to over 100 low and middle-income countries (LMICs). The regulatory approval comes on the back of a five-month collaborative trial conducted by a consortium of companies.

"Cipla will soon make Cipmolnu 200mg capsules available at all leading pharmacies and Covid treatment centers across the country. The Company has adequate manufacturing capacities and a solid distribution mechanism in place to ensure speedy access to this effective treatment pan India," the company said in a release.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Umang Vohra (MD and Global CEO, Cipla Limited) said, "This launch is yet another step in our endeavour to enable access to all treatments in COVID care. We continue to be guided by the power of science to address the unmet needs of patients across the globe and bring care closer to the patients".

Read also: Anti-COVID pill Molnupiravir, Covovax, Corbevax get CDSCO panel emergency use nod