India approves launch of drug for COVID-19 patients

Muscat: Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has announced the launch of antiviral drug Favipiravir, which will be sold under the brand name FabiFlu for treating patients exhibiting mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19.

The drug will be priced around Indian Rupee 103 per tablet (approx 600 baiza) and will be available in 200 mg variant. FabiFlu is the first oral favipiravir-approved medication in India for the treatment of COVID-19.

"It is for restricted emergency use in India. Restricted use entails responsible medication use where every patient must have signed informed consent before treatment initiation," the company said in a statement.