Aurobindo Pharma has announced the receipt of the DCGI's (Drugs Controller General of India) permission to manufacture and distribute its in-licensed generic version of MSD molnupiravir, to be marketed as Molnaflu. Earlier this year, Aurobindo had signed a non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreement with Merck Sharpe Dohme, Singapore (MSD), a subsidiary of Merck & Co. (US) to manufacture and supply molnupiravir to over 100 low and middle-income countries (LMIC), including India.

Molnupiravir is the first oral antiviral approved by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (UKMHRA) for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Covid -19 in adults. It has also been recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and under Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA). Last week, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) granted Special Approval for Emergency in Japan for molnupiravir for infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2.

K. Nithyananda Reddy, Vice Chairman, Aurobindo said, "We are delighted with the timely permission from DCGI for the generic version of molnupiravir as it opens up access to an affordable treatment option for Covid-19 patients and enable us to help battle the pandemic with effective and high-quality pharmaceutical products. We are glad to have partnered with MSD on this product and are committed to enhance access to this product for patients in need, in our partnered territories. The product progresses our mission of being committed to healthier life".

The DCGI, based on the review of clinical data of molnupiravir has given permission to manufacture and market anti Covid-19 pill molnupiravir for restricted emergency use for treatment of adult Covid-19 patients in India, subject to certain conditions.