Eli Lilly and Company has announced new initiatives to help COVID-19 patients in India as part of its commitment to bring the full force of its scientific and medical expertise to attack the coronavirus pandemic around the world. It is offering donations of baricitinib to the Indian government through Direct Relief while simultaneously working with several local Indian pharmaceutical companies to execute royalty-free voluntary licensing agreements to accelerate the manufacturing and distribution of the medicine in India during the pandemic.
Earlier this week, Eli Lilly received permission for restricted emergency use from Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, a division of the Ministry of Health for baricitinib (2 mg and 4 mg) in combination with remdesivir, for treatment of suspected or laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in hospitalised adults requiring supplemental oxygen, invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
Baricitinib is an oral medication currently registered in India for the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients who have responded inadequately to, or who are intolerant to one or more disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.
“With the COVID-19 crisis devastating India, hospitals are overwhelmed by the number of cases and patients need access to potentially life-saving treatments such as baricitinib. We hope that our donations as well as collaborations with other organsations speed access to baricitinib and provide treatment options for these patients,” said David A, Ricks, Chairman and CEO, Eli Lilly.”