Glenmark to launch higher strength version of oral antiviral FabiFlu

Global pharma major, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals announced on Thursday that it is launching a 400 mg version of oral antiviral FabiFlu, for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in India. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals was the first company in the country to have received the regulator’s approval for 400 mg dosage form.

The higher strength is expected to improve patient compliance and experience, by effectively reducing the number of tablets that patients require per day. A higher pill burden has been associated with lower adherence to therapy, the latter affecting viral suppression, and the overall treatment outcomes. Thus, reducing the pill burden has been a demand from doctors and patients to enable adherence.

Explaining the significance of this development, Dr Monika Tandon, Vice President & Head of Clinical Development, Global Speciality Portfolio at Glenmark Pharmaceuticals stated that being the first company to launch Favipiravir in India, Glenmark will continue to innovate and seek new treatment options for COVID-19 patients by introducing a higher strength of FabiFlu, which is in line with these efforts. She further added that the 400 mg version is a result of Glenmark’s own R&D efforts to improve the treatment experience for patients in India.

At 9.30 am on  Friday, the stock of Glenmark was trading at Rs 464.35 per share, higher by 0.70 per cent or Rs 3.25 per share on BSE, against a 0.06 per cent decline in the benchmark index. The 52-week high is recorded at Rs 572.70 and the 52-week low is Rs 168 on BSE.