NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday announced that the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) panel granted emergency use approval to the Anti-Covid pill Molnupiravir.
The health Minister said that 13 drug manufacturers in India will be making this drug domestically including Dr. Reddy Laboratories, Cipla and Natco.
Molnupiravir has already been approved and is being used in many countries. The United Kingdom became the first country to approve and use this drug on November 4. USA also cleared Molnupiraviron on December 23 saying it can be used in certain adults. The drug regulator said that emergency use authorisation for Molnupiravir for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in adults with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalisation or death.
Drug Regulator CDSCO approved two more vaccines the same day, Corbevax and Coovax.
On the other hand, India will administer booster shots to health professionals and those above 60 years of age from January 10. The country also approved vaccine doses for kids above 15 years of age.
The announcement came after the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on COVID-19 of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) recommended granting emergency use authorisation (EUA) to both the vaccines with certain conditions.
Several states reported record rise in COVID cases since June this year. COVID restrictions have also been imposed in several states from Delhi to Maharashtra. Yellow alert has been raised in Delhi after the national capital recorded 331 cases on Monday, highest since June.
Union Health Minister Munsukh Mandaviya congratulated India saying, “Further strengthening the fight against COVID-19, CDSCO, @MoHFW_INDIA has given 3 approvals in a single day for CORBEVAX vaccine, COVOVAX vaccine, Antiviral drug Molnupiravir for restricted use in an emergency situation”.
Congratulations India 🇮🇳
Further strengthening the fight against COVID-19, CDSCO, @MoHFW_INDIA has given 3 approvals in a single day for:
– CORBEVAX vaccine
– COVOVAX vaccine
– Anti-viral drug MolnupiravirFor restricted use in emergency situation. (1/5)
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) December 28, 2021
What are these two new vaccines?
Corbevax:
The Vaccine shots will be given at an interval of 28 days. Corbevax will be stored at 2 degree Celsius to 8 degree Celsius. SEC received the proposal of corbevax on December 10 by EUA and then after detailed deliberation it was recommended for grant of permission restricted use in emergency.
Covovax:
Serum Institute of India’s Covovax is administered through an intramuscular route with two doses scheduled to be given at an interval of 28 days. This vaccine of SII is a technology transfer of the Novavax USA vaccine. SII has conducted 2/3 phases in the country for comparing safety and immunogenicity of Covovax of Serum and Novavax vaccine.