Hyderabad pharmaceutical Raghava Life Sciences gets nod to make Favipiravir API

Hyderabad: Raghava Life Sciences (RLS) has received the drug control body’s approval to manufacture and market the Favipiravir bulk drug.

The Favipiravir anti-viral drug is prescribed for Covid-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms.

The Hyderabad-based producer of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) had in May commercialised the Favipiravir API and is currently dispatching that to domestic and foreign drug formulators.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), of which the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) is a part, granted the approvals “as part of accelerated approval process considering the emergency situation and unmet medical need in light of Covid-19 outbreak for restricted emergency use in the country.”

Founded in 2018, RLS focuses on manufacturing intermediates and APIs, apart from specialising in contract research projects. “We’ve focused on developing the API with raw materials sourced within India to reduce dependency on procurement from China,” RLS managing director Lohith Reddy Ponguleti said.

Several Indian pharmaceutical formulators, including Lupin, Hetero, Cipla and Sun Pharma have launched their oral Favipiravir pill under various own brands at competitive prices.