COVID 19: Dr Reddy's Labs collaborates with FUJIFILM, Global Response Aid for Avigan (favipiravir)

Hyderabad: Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. has announced a partnership with FUJIFILM Corporation through FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical Co. Ltd. and Global Response Aid for the development, manufacture and sales of Avigan® Tablets (generic name: favipiravir), a potential treatment of COVID-19.

Under the tripartite agreement signed on 30th June 2020, FUJIFILM grants Dr Reddy's the exclusive rights of manufacturing and also grants both Dr Reddy's and GRA the rights to develop, sell and distribute Avigan® in all countries other than Japan, China and Russia. Dr Reddy's would have exclusive rights for development, selling and distribution of Avigan® in India. Further, FUJIFILM would receive an upfront license fee and royalties on sales from Dr Reddy's and GRA.

FUJIFILM will provide Dr Reddy's and GRA with an array of data on Avigan®'s preclinical and clinical studies that FUJIFILM has accumulated thus far. Dr Reddy's and GRA will use this data for clinical studies targeting COVID-19 in regions where the infection has been spreading. In addition, FUJIFILM will grant Dr.Reddy's right to use Avigan®'s patents of formulation and manufacturing method. Dr Reddy's will herewith establish a setup for manufacturing drugs of the same quality as Avigan®, and utilize GRA's global sales network to supply the manufactured drugs swiftly and in a stable manner.

The FUJIFILM Group is currently conducting a clinical study on Avigan® targeting COVID-19 patients in Japan and the US and is working to increase the drug's production by partnering with domestic and overseas companies. Dr Reddy's and GRA shall introduce the product in the market post all applicable approvals in the respective countries. 

Avigan® Tablet, developed by FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical, was approved for manufacture and sale in Japan in 2014 as an influenza antiviral drug. 

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