Cipla signs licensing deal with Lilly to manufacture and commercialise baricitinib in India

Cipla  announced that  it  has  signed  a royalty-free, non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreement with Eli Lilly and Company, US for the manufacture and commercialisation of the drug baricitinib for COVID-19 indication. Baricitinib was issued a restricted emergency use approval by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), Ministry of Health, India for use in combination with remdesivir for the treatment of   suspected   or   laboratory   confirmed   COVID-19   in   hospitalised   adults requiring supplemental  oxygen,  invasive  mechanical  ventilation,  or  extracorporeal  membrane oxygenation  (ECMO). This collaboration is a step further in Cipla’s efforts to enhance access to critical treatments for patients affected by the pandemic.

Commenting on the partnership,  Umang  Vohra, MD and Global CEO, Cipla said, “Enabling access  to  high-quality treatment and  medication is core  to our purpose of ‘Caring for life.’ Through the pandemic, Cipla has been at the forefront of  COVID  care  and  our partnership  with Lilly is  a  demonstration  of  our  unwavering commitment to care towards patients impacted by COVID-19.”