Hetero gets emergency nod for tocilizumab use | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Hetero gets emergency nod for tocilizumab use

Livemint | ByNeetu Chandra Sharma, New Delhi
Sep 07, 2021 03:35 AM IST

Hyderabad-based Hetero’s version of the drug will be available from September-end.

Drugmaker Hetero on Monday said its generic version of Roche Holding AG’s tocilizumab, an immunosuppressant used to treat severe cases of Covid-19, has been given emergency-use approval in India.

The drug was in short supply as infections and hospitalisations surged during the pandemic’s second wave.(AFP)
The drug was in short supply as infections and hospitalisations surged during the pandemic’s second wave.(AFP)

Hyderabad-based Hetero’s version of the drug will be available from September-end.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

“This approval is crucial for supply security in India, considering a global shortage of tocilizumab. We will be working closely with the government to ensure equitable distribution,” said Dr. B. Partha Saradhi Reddy, chairman, Hetero Group.

The drug was in short supply as infections and hospitalizations surged during the pandemic’s second wave, with patients having to pay multiples of the drug’s price to procure it. Cipla is the sole distributor of Roche’s tocilizumab in India.

Hetero said the authorization by the regulator will allow doctors to use it for treatment of covid in hospitalized adults who are receiving systemic corticosteroids and require supplemental oxygen, mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Tocilizumab is used with steroids to soothe an excessive immune response in severe covid patients. It was originally developed to treat inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Tocilizumab is also part of India’s Covid treatment protocol, though as an off-label drug. Hetero’s Tocira will be marketed by its associate company ‘Hetero Healthcare’ in India.

Hetero is among several Hyderabad-based companies which are involved in India’s fight against the contagious disease.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On