Aurobindo Pharma Limited, an Indian pharmaceutical company, has announced that it has launched generic molnupiravir under the brand name Molnaflu, according to Live Mint.
Molnupiravir, jointly developed by Merck with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, has been approved for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in adult patients.
On December 28, 2021, Strides Pharma, another Indian pharmaceutical company, said it would launch a generic version of Molnupiravir under the brand name Stripiravir.
Earlier this week, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, yet another Indian drugmaker, announced that it would soon launch the generic version of molnupiravir under the brand name Molflu.
In 2021, Aurobindo had signed a bi-lateral non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreement with Merck to manufacture and supply generic molnupiravir to over 100 low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), including India.
K Nithyananda Reddy, Vice Chairman and Managing Director at Aurobindo, said, “We are delighted with the timely permission from DCGI [Drugs Controller General of India] for the licensed version of molnupiravir (Molnaflu) as it opens up access to an affordable treatment option for COVID-19 patients and enable us to help battle the pandemic with effective and high-quality pharmaceutical products.”
Molnaflu will be produced at the Aurobindo’s manufacturing facilities in India, which are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Aurobindo said, “The company has adequate capacities to meet the global demand across the 100 plus LMIC for the product.”
The DCGI has given permission to manufacture and market the COVID-19 antiviral pill molnupiravir for restricted emergency use in India for treatment of mild to moderate infection in adult patients who have certain conditions.
Molnupiravir is the first oral antiviral pill approved by the FDA and MHRA for treating mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults. In December, the FDA issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for Pfizer’s Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients.
