Indian pharmaceutical Strides Pharma Science has received regulatory approval to start clinical trials of antiviral drug favipiravir, which has been touted as a potential treatment for COVID-19. The company has received approval from the Drug Controller General of India to conduct human studies of favipiravir in the country.
Favipiravir is manufactured under the brand name Avigan by a unit of Japan’s Fujifilm Holdings. Earlier this month, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals became the first pharma company in India to get the nod to conduct trials on the drug. The results of this study are expected by July or August.