Drug major Roche India on Monday announced the launch of its first batch of antibody cocktail against Coronavirus in India. The antibody cocktail (Casirivimab and Imdevimab)is priced at Rs 59,750 per dose and will be marketed by Cipla in the country.
The Roche’s antibody cocktail was given to then US President Donald Trump when he contracted the coronavirus disease in October last year.
Cipla will distribute the product by leveraging its strong distribution strengths across the country, it added.
What is the price of Roche’s Antibody Cocktail?
The price for each patient dose [a combined dose of 1,200 mg (600 mg of Casirivimab and 600 mg of Imdevimab)] will be Rs 59,750 inclusive of all taxes. The maximum retail price for the multi dose pack (each pack can treat two patients) is Rs 1,19,500 inclusive of all taxes
Where will be the drug available ?
As per the statement, the drug will be available through leading hospitals and COVID treatment centers.
_Who will be benefited by new drug ?
The antibody cocktail is to be administered for the treatment of mild to moderate Covid-19 in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age or older, weighing at least 40 kg) and who are at high risk of developing severe Covid-19 disease and do not require oxygen.
Each pack can treat two patients as the dosage per patient is a combined dose of 1200 mg (600 mg of Casirivimab and 600 mg of Imdevimab) administered by intravenous infusion or subcutaneous route. The vials need to be stored at 2 degrees Celsius to 8 degrees Celsius. If opened for the first patients’ dose, a vial can be used for the second patients’ dose within 48 hours if stored at 2 degrees Celsius to 8 degrees Celsius, the company said.
Umang Vohra, MD and Global CEO Cipla said this drug has been shown to help high-risk patients before their condition worsens, reducing the risk of hospitalisation and fatality by 70 per cent and shortening the duration of symptoms by four days.
Antibody Cocktail gets approval in India
The Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) had recently provided an emergency use authorisation (EUA) for the Antibody Cocktail (Casirivimab and Imdevimab) in India. It has also received a EUA in the US and several EU countries.
We are optimistic that the availability of Antibody Cocktail (Casirivimab and Imdevimab) in India can help in minimising hospitalisation, ease the burden on healthcare systems and play a key role in treatment of high risk patients before their condition worsens, said V Simpson Emmanuel, Managing Director and CEO, Roche Pharma India…. Quoted agency reports.
Explaining the marketing strategy Vohra said Cipla look forward to leveraging it’s solid marketing and distribution strengths in India to provide broader, equitable access to this innovative treatment option in the country.
Report – Vikas Chandra Agrawal