The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) granted Zydus Cadila limited emergency use clearance to use the antiviral drug Virafin for the cure of mild COVID-19 infections on Friday.
The antiviral drug can be administered in a single dose subcutaneously, making treatment of COVID-19 disease more easy.
According to the company’s regulatory filing, “When given early in the course of COVID, Virafin will help patients heal more quickly and prevent much of the complications. Virafin will be eligible on a medical specialist’s prescription for use in a hospital or institutional setting.”
Virafin showed less need for supplemental oxygen in a multicentric study performed in 20-25 centres across India, suggesting that it was able to monitor respiratory depression and loss, which has been one of the main obstacles in treating COVID-19. The drug has also been shown to be effective against other types of viral infections “The firm also said.
The therapy showed substantial progress in covid19 patients in Phase III trials. During the trials, a higher percentage of patients who received PegIFN were RT PCR negative by day 7 than those who received placebo. When compared to other anti-viral agents, the medication guarantees faster viral removal and has many additional benefits “Furthermore, company said.
“The fact that we are able to deliver a therapy that greatly decreases viral load when provided early on will help in improved disease management,” said Dr. Sharvil Patel, Managing Director, Cadila Healthcare Limited. It arrives at an important moment for patients, and we will continue to support them with vital treatments while we battle COVID-19.”
According to data updated on Friday by the Union Health Ministry, India added a whopping 3.32 lakh new coronavirus cases in a single day, bringing the country’s total to 1,62,63,695, while active cases surpassed the 24-lakh mark.
With a total of 2,263 additional deaths, the death toll has risen to 1,86,920. According to data revised at 8 a.m., the nation saw a single-day increase of 3,32,730 new incidents.
The Union Health Ministry said on Friday that Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Rajasthan posted 75.01 percent of new COVID-19 cases recorded in a day.
Maharashtra has the newest cases every day, with 67,013. Uttar Pradesh is next with 34,254 new infections, while Kerala has 26,995 new cases, according to the ministry.
