Indian company allowed to market biologic therapy for COVID-19 patients

Sun, Jul 12, 2020
By publisher
1 MIN READ

Coronavirus Pandemic

India’s Biocon has received approval from the country’s drug regulator to market, Itolizumab injection, to treat cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in COVID-19 patients, a company statement said.

In 2013, Biocon had launched Itolizumab, an anti-CD6 IgG1 monoclonal antibody biologic therapy for treating chronic plaque psoriasis, which it has now repurposed for treating COVID-19 patients.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been observed to induce an overreaction of the immune system, generating a large number of cytokines that can cause severe damage to the lungs and other organs.

The virus can cause, in the worst scenario, multi-organ failure and even death.

The approval of Itolizumab, from the drug regulator is based on the results from the successful conclusion of a randomised, controlled clinical trial at multiple hospitals in Mumbai and New Delhi, the statement said.

India, ranked third after the United States and Brazil for the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the world, has 283,407 active cases with 22,123 deaths reported so far. (Xinhua/NAN)

– Jul. 12, 2020 @ 9:49 GMT |

Tags: