Cadila Healthcare rises on exploring biologicals route to treat coronavirus

Cadila Healthcare rose 0.76% to Rs 336.30 after the company said it is exploring the biologicals route to treat novel Coronavirus with long-acting Interferon alpha-2b.

Zydus Cadila on 20 April 2020 announced that its biological therapy Pegylated Interferon alpha-2b, 'PegiHep' can emerge as one of the pathways to treat COVID 19. The treatment has emerged after the publication of two non-peer reviewed research articles at bioRxiv and medRxiv, the COVID-19 pre-print servers hosted by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Interferon alpha-2b has been used in the treatment of COVID-19 in China and Cuba and is a part of treatment guidelines of the Chinese Government.

The company said that Interferon alpha can potentially emerge as one of the treatment options for COVID 19. In vitro and in vivo studies suggested positive effects on COVID-19 Patients. Recent research conducted in the US shows that Interferon alpha significantly reduces novel coronavirus titers in vitro. A clinical study in China shows shortened duration of viral shedding in patients.

The company has approached Department of Biotechnology, Government of India to investigate the role of Pegylated Interferon alpha-2b for COVID 19. The firm is ready to undertake clinical trials. The company is also working with USFDA to open an Investigational New Drug (IND) filing for Pegylated Interferon alpha-2b and explores possibility for "Compassionate Use Program".

The firm has been commercially manufacturing Pegylated Interferon alpha-2b under the brand name, PegiHep, since 2011 for the treatment of Hepatitis B and C with 1.5 lac doses being administered. PegiHep is not yet licensed or approved for the treatment of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, in a separate announcement on 18 April 2020, the company said it received final approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to market Baclofen tablets, 5 mg. Baclofen is used to treat muscle spasms caused by certain conditions such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury/disease. It works by helping to relax the muscles. It will be manufactured at the group's formulations manufacturing facility at Baddi.The group now has 288 approvals and has so far filed over 386 ANDAs since the commencement of the filing process in FY 2003-04.

On a consolidated basis, the drug maker's net profit tanked 26.54% to Rs 375.18 crore on a 0.52% rise in net sales to Rs 3,534.50 crore in Q3 December 2019 Q3 December 2018.

Cadila Healthcare is a pharmaceutical company based in India.

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