Lupin launches antiviral drug Favipiravir under the name Covihalt to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 infection

Drug major Lupin on Wednesday announced the launch of its Favipiravir drug under the brand name ‘Covihalt’ for the treatment patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms at Rs 49 per tablet in India. Favipiravir has received authorisation from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for emergency use, Lupin said in a regulatory filing. Its Covihalt dosage strength has been developed keeping in mind convenience of administration, it stated, adding that the drug is available as 200 mg tablets in the form of a strip of 10 tablets, and priced at Rs 49 per tablet. Lupin President - India Region Formulations (IRF) Rajeev Sibal said the company believes that it can leverage its expertise in managing widespread community diseases like tuberculosis to proactively reach patients across India and ensure access to Covihalt through its strong distribution network and field force. On 4 August, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries had launched Favipiravir under the brand **name 'FluGuard'** for the treatment of mild to moderate cases of COVID-19, at Rs 35 per tablet in India. Shares of Lupin were trading 0.32 per cent higher at Rs 943.70 apiece on BSE.