ICT, Lasa succeed in Favipiravir drug synthesis, to commence production

API Major, Lasa Supergenerics and Institute of Chemical Technology had come together in the month of March 2020 in effort to bring the antiviral to the market as a promising therapy to fight the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The collaborators now announced that they have been successful in Favipiravir drug synthesis and will commence production soon.

Commenting on the development, Dr Omkar Herlekar, Chairman– Lasa Supergenerics, said, “Efforts over the last few months has brought success and we are looking to manufacture close to 10,000 doses to begin with and in the meanwhile also apply for the drug licence with competent authorities and continue to seek strategic private investments or government aid. Our move into human steroid API is in line with the organisations inherent strengths and objectives to diversify.

“We are happy to share with you that the Favipiravir molecule has been successfully synthesized in the ICT laboratory on a lab scale and further pilot plan scale up is required,” commented Prof Vikas N Telvekar, ICT, Mumbai on the antiviral’s successful synthesis.

Recently in its Q4 results, the company reported a healthy increase in its PAT to Rs 3.63 cr for FY20, as compared to a loss of Rs 12.04 cr in the corresponding period last fiscal.