Highlights:
- Roche’s COVID-19 drug now available in India
- The drug already has an Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) in the US as well as many EU countries
- Know the price and if you can take this drug
As the world’s second largest population combats the 2nd wave of the deadly Coronavirus, drug major Roche and Cipla have launched their first batch of an antibody cocktail, on Monday, for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 patients who are at high risk.
In a joint statement, Cipla and Roche said, “The first batch of the antibody cocktail (Casirivimab and Imdevimab) is now available in India while a second batch will be made available by mid-June”.
The statement also said, “In total, they can potentially benefit 2,00,000 patients as each of the 1,00,000 packs that will be available in India offers treatment for two patients”.
Cipla said that it will distribute the drug by leveraging on its strong distribution network spreading across India.
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The Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) recently provided an Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) to the antibody cocktail in India and it has already received the EUA in the US as well as in many EU countries.
V Simpson Emmanuel, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Roche Pharma India said, “We are optimistic that the availability of antibody cocktail in India can help in minimising hospitalisation, ease the burden on healthcare systems and play a key role in the treatment of high-risk patients before their condition worsens”.
What Dosage Of COVID-19Drug Is Prescribed?
Every pack of the COVID-19 drug will contain one vial of Casirivimab and one vial of Imdevimab, totalling 2400 mg of the antibody cocktail.
Each pack of the drug can be used to treat two patients as the dosage per patient is a combined of 1200 mg (600 mg of Casirivimab and 600 mg of Imdevimab).
If opened for the first patients’ dose, a vial can be used for the second patients’ dose in under 48 hours if it is stored between 2 degree Celsius and 8 degree Celsius.
How Much Will The COVID-19 Drug Cost?
The cost incurred by each patient for this COVID-19 drug will be ₹ 59,750 inclusive of all taxes.
The maximum retail price for the multi-dose pack is ₹ 1,19,500 inclusive of all taxes.
How To Obtain The COVID-19 Drug?
The drug will be available at leading hospitals as well as the COVID-19 treatment centres.
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As per the statement from the company, this antibody cocktail will also be available through Cipla’s distribution network across the country. Healthcare institutions – both private and public – will be able to put an enquiry by reaching out to their nearest Cipla distributor.
Who Can Take The COVID-19 Drug?
The antibody cocktail will be administered to treat the COVID-19 with mild to moderate infections in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age or older, weighing at least 40 kg) who are confirmed to be infected with SARS-COV2 and are at high risk of developing severe infection disease and do not require oxygen.
How Will The COVID-19 Drug Be Administered?
The Roche COVID-19 antibody cocktail can be administered by intravenous infusion as well as via the subcutaneous route.
The intravenous administration can take about 20 to 30 minutes.
For the subcutaneous route, four syringes of 2.5 ml (2 each of Casirivimab & Imdevimab) need to be administered concurrently at four different sites on the abdomen or thigh.
During the infusion, patients must be monitored and observed for at least 60 minutes after the completion of the infusion and between 15 to 30 minutes after the subcutaneous injection is administered.