December 28
Center Approves Molnupiravir For Emergency Use
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation on Tuesday approved two more coronavirus vaccines and one anti-viral drug for emergency use in India. The two latest vaccines cleared by India are Corbevax and Covovax. The anti-viral drug Molnupiravir can be used during emergency.
Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said in a tweet, Further strengthening the fight against COVID-19, CDSCO, has given 3 approvals in a single day for: – CORBEVAX vaccine – COVOVAX vaccine – Anti-viral drug Molnupiravir for restricted use in emergency situation.
Corbevax is made by the Hyderabad-based firm Biological-E. “It’s a hat-trick! It’s now third vaccine developed in India,” Mr Mandaviya said.
The other two vaccines developed in India are Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and the Serum Institute of India’s (SII) Covishield.
Also, Health Minister said, the anti-viral drug Molnupiravir will be manufactured in India by 13 companies for restricted use under emergency situation to treat adult patients with COVID-19 and who have high risk of progression of the disease.
So far, eight COVID-19 vaccines have got emergency use authorisation from India’s drug regulator. Those are Covishield, Covaxin, ZyCoV-D, Sputnik V, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson, Corbevax and Covovax.
