The company said that the WHO has recommended Nirmatrelvir and Ritonavir for mild and moderate COVID-19 patients at the highest risk of hospital admission

Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical company Hetero which on December 26 received the World Health Organization’s Prequalification of Medicines Programme (WHO PQ) for Nirmatrelvir – generic version of oral COVID-19 treatment – will sell it as a combi-pack with two tablets of Nirmatrelvir (150 mg) and one tablet of Ritonavir (100 mg) under brand name Nirmacom.

In its press release, the company said that the WHO has recommended Nirmatrelvir and Ritonavir for mild and moderate COVID-19 patients at the highest risk of hospital admission, such as the aged, unvaccinated, or immunosuppressed patients.

The drug is available by prescription only and should be consumed after diagnosis of COVID-19 and within five days of symptom onset.

Explaining the significance of the WHO Prequalification for Nirmacom, the Managing Director, of Hetero Group of Companies Dr. Vamsi Krishna Bandi, said, it will allow them “to expand access to this important innovative antiretroviral drug to people in need”.

The move comes at a time when COVID-19 cases are on the rise again. For the production and sale of the drug, the company has signed a non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreement with the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP). The company said it will make Nirmacom available faster at “affordable prices across 95 Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) including India”.

Hetero has already received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to manufacture and market Nirmacom.

Author

Arushi Soni

Arushi works as a Writer for HealthLEADS. She holds a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Shiv Nadar University. Her previous experience includes roles as a Writer and Reporter for The Hindu and Firstpost, Network18.
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