Zydus Cadila has been granted permission to conduct clinical trials of its antibody cocktail. It is the only Indian company that claims to develop neutralizing monoclonal antibodies-based cocktail for Covid19 treatment. The permission was given by the Subject Expert Committee of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation.
According to sources, the Subject Expert Committee gives a recommendation for the phase one and phase two clinical trials of Zydus Cadila’s biological therapy ZRC-3308, a cocktail of two SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies that can emerge as one of the main treatments for mild COvid19.”
These antibodies treat coronavirus by cloning unique white blood cells. The domestic pharmaceutical company had sought the Drug Controller General of India's permission to conduct the trials of its biological therapy ZRC-3308.
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Currently, a few hospitals are administering the antibody cocktail developed by Roche which arrived in the country on May 24. The Roche antibody cocktail comprises two fast-acting anti-bodies- Casirimab and Imdevimab. The single Roche antibody cocktail costs Rs59,750.
Eli Lilly and Company is another antibody cocktail to receive permission. India has announced the restricted emergency use of its antibody drugs, bamlanivimab 700mg and etesevimab 1400mg. It is used in India for the treatment of mild to moderate coronavirus patients.