INTAS Pharma gets DGCI nod for clinical trial of its newly developed COVID-19 drug

New Delhi, 30 August 2020: Intas pharmceuticals has announced that its R&D team has developed a COVID-19 specific Hyperimmune Globulin as treatment for patients suffering from moderate to severe COVID-19 infection. Hyperimmune Globulin also has potential for use as prophylaxis for all high-risk population in contact with COVID-19 patients. Intas is among the world’s first to adopt this approach for treating COVID-19 patients. This will be a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative from Intas in collaboration with all Indian Blood Banks that will help to procure convalescent plasma (plasma extracted from patients recovered from COVID-19 infection).

The company has received permission from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), to conduct clinical trial by using the newly developed COVID-19 specific Hyperimmune Globulin. After establishing its usefulness in the clinical trial, this product will be available for use in treating COVID-19 patients. Commenting on the development, Dr Alok Chaturvedi, Head of Medical & Regulatory Affairs, at Intas, mentioned that "This endeavour is a testament to Intas’ commitment towards meeting unmet medical need of the society through research driven solutions."

Dr. Suma Ray, Vice President & Head of Plasma Operations at Intas mentioned that Hyperimmune Globulin will provide purified and enriched preparation of COVID-19 specific neutralizing antibodies in high concentration, free from blood transmitted viruses and other plasma proteins.

Hyperimmune Globulin will also enable consistent, precise dosing and predictable response early in the treatment of COVID-19 infections. Being a specific antibody treatment manufactured specially, it does not require blood group matching or donor selection while administering to the patient besides having huge benefits in terms of assured antibody administration. Unlike Plasma therapy, Hyperimmune Globulin can be readily administered to the patients anywhere even in the remotest part of the country.

Intas is establishing an alliance with medical and research institutions, blood donation groups to collect the plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients. Intas will shortly launch a website to help recovered COVID-19 patients to locate the nearest Blood Bank where they can safely donate plasma. The company seeks government support to facilitate the supply of convalescent plasma for the manufacturing of these enriched Hyperimmune Globulin and thereby help more patients conquer COVID-19.