Cipla sees opportunity for its anti-hiv drug
With anti-hiv drugs being considered a possible line of treatment for the novel coronavirus that is spreading across the globe, companies like Cipla that make a particular anti-hiv drug combination see an opportunity.
Kedar Upadhye, global chief financial officer of Cipla, said: “Within the next few weeks or so, if scientific data shows that the two antiretrovial medications — lopinavir and ritonavir — can be used effectively to tackle coronavirus, we do see an opportunity there.”
Later in the day, the Drug Controller General of India approved the “restricted use” of the drug combination. According to government sources, apex health research body Indian Council of Medical Research had sought an emergency approval from the DCGI for the medications.
Upadhye said the drug combination (which Cipla sells under the brand Lopimune) has protease inhibitors that are designed to block HIV viral replication. It is being considered a line of treatment for the novel coronavirus, which has caused the deaths of about 500 people globally.
However, this is yet to be established scientifically. Doctors are scrambling for a potent treatment for the virus, which is spreading fast and has no vaccines available yet. Traditional flu medication, and even Tamiflu, is not likely to contain the spread.
About a few weeks back, Chinese doctors said they saw positive response in patients (in Beijing) who were administered a drug cocktail comprising the anti-hiv combination and an anti-flu medication (oseltamivir).
Cipla can supply the drug globally if needed as it already has approvals i n many countries. The company also hopes that in case of a global health emergency, approvals would not take much time. Cipla has already received queries from China for supply of the drug.
It has sufficient raw material to make about 10-12 million tablets of Lopimune. It makes these drugs at multiple sites in India, and sells it at a price of ~2,000 for 60 tablets.