Eli Lilly allows 3 Indian cos to make Covid drug

DRL, MSN Labs, Torrent to make Baricitinib

New Delhi, May 13: Drug firm Eli Lilly and Company on Thursday said it has inked voluntary licensing agreements with three Indian drug firms — Torrent Pharmaceuticals, Dr Reddy’s and MSN Laboratories — to expedite the availability of Baricitinib for treatment of Covid patients in India.

The company has issued additional royalty-free, non-exclusive voluntary licences to Dr Reddy’s, MSN Laboratories and Torrent Pharmaceuticals, who will be collaborating with Lilly to accelerate and expand the availability of Baricitinib in India, Eli Lilly and Company said in a statement.

“These three additional voluntary licensing agreements will ensure highquality manufacturing and accessibility of Baricitinib during this pandemic improving the local treatment options available to positively impact the lives of people who are currently battling Covid in India,” it added.

The company on Monday had announced signing voluntary licensing agreements with Sun Pharma, Cipla and Lupin.

Eli Lilly has received permission for restricted emergency use by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, for Baricitinib to be used in combination with Remdesivir for the treatment of suspected or laboratoryconfirmed Covid-19 in hospitalised adults requiring supplemental oxygen, invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, the statement said.