MSN pact with MPP to make Pfizer's oral pill for Covid

Hyderabad City-based MSN Group, one of the fastest-growing, research-based and fully integrated pharmaceutical companies, entered into a licencing agreement with Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) for manufacturing and distribution of a generic version of Pfizer's oral Covid-19 treatment.

The novel antiviral pill is a combination of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir tablets. It is authorised in the US and many other countries for the treatment of mild to moderate Covid-19 in adults and children of 12

years and above who are within 5 days of symptom onset and at high risk of progression to severe disease. The recommended dosage includes 300 mg (two 150 mg tablets) of nirmatrelvir with ritonavir

100mg tablet given twice daily for five days.

MSN will launch the product under the brand name "Paxvid" in India soon after receiving the approval from DCGI. Paxvid, available on prescription only, comes as combined pack of containing a tablet each of nirmatrelvir 150mg and ritonavir 100mg. Manufactured at the state- of-the-art US FDA and EU approved facility, Paxvid will be affordably priced to benefit the patients.

The oral treatment showed an 89 per cent reduction in risk of Covid-19 related hospitalisation or death for any cause compared to placebo based on the Phase 2/3 study conducted by Pfizer.

"This is a momentous achievement for us in many ways. Firstly, our organisation achieving the license following a "vigorous process" of screening by Medicines Patent Pool signifies our global quality

standards. Secondly, we have developed nirmatrelvir API and Formulation (a novel and complex molecule of the oral Covid-19 treatment) wholly in-house, demonstrating our strength in R&D.

Lastly, this agreement reflects our unflinching commitment to the ongoing global fight against the pandemic," the company stated.

"Given the highly promising clinical outcomes, we are hopeful that the oral Covid-19 treatment makes a huge difference to global public health while adding to the list of proven treatment options available to patients," the company added.

This agreement will help create broad access for nirmatrelvir; ritonavir use in 95 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) including India following appropriate regulatory approvals.