New Delhi: As many as 19 drugmakers in India have signed sublicence agreements to manufacture the generic version of Pfizer’s oral COVID-19 antiviral nirmatrelvir.
India has signed agreements with the United Nations-backed Medicines Patent Pool (MPP).
It is to be used in combination with ritonavir, according to reports.
They are among the 35 companies across 12 countries to have entered into such agreements with MPP for manufacturing and supplying to 95 low and middle income countries, including India.
Pfizer markets its oral COVID-19 treatment under the name of Paxlovid, which has received emergency use/conditional authorisation from USFDA and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Of the 35, six companies will focus on producing the drug substance, nine will produce the drug product
“Nirmatrelvir is a new product and requires substantial manufacturing capabilities to produce. We have been very impressed with the quality of manufacturing demonstrated by these companies,” MPP Executive Director Charles Gore said.
Sun Pharma, Biocon, Aurobindo Pharma, Cadila, Torrent Pharma, Strides, MSN Pharma, Laurus Labs, Granules, Divis Laboratories, Glenmark, Cipla, Emcure, Viatris, Amneal, Arene Lifesciences, Macleods, SMS Pharmaceuticals and Hetero are the 19 drugmakers to receive the sublicence.
