The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) gave Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to pharmaceutical firm Hetero for its generic version of Tocilizumab for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalised adults. This means that medical practitioners in India can use the drug for patients who are receiving systemic corticosteroids and require supplemental oxygen, non- invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

Here what we know about the drug:

It will be marketed by its associate company Hetero Healthcare in India.

Its biologics arm Hetero Biopharma will be manufacturing the drug at its dedicated biologics facility, based at Jadcherla in Hyderabad, India.

The drug would be available under brand name Tocira.

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Tocilizumab 400mg/20ml is biosimilar version of Roche’s Actemra/RoActemra.

It will be available from September end.

The Central government has approved Tocilizumab as part of COVID-19 treatment protocol, though as an off-label drug.

Hetero has not announced the price of the drug but it is expected to be cheaper than the branded Tocilizumab which is priced at Rs 40,600 per single injection.

Hetero was also the first Indian company to develop generic version of Remdesivir.

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It is also used alone or in combination with other medications to relieve the symptoms of certain types of arthritis.

According to the findings of the Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy or RECOVERY trial in the UK, Tocilizumab reduces risk of deaths of hospitalised COVID-19 patients.

“We are pleased with the approval of Hetero’s Tocilizumab (Tocira) in India. This demonstrates our technical capabilities and commitment to bringing important therapeutics relevant to COVID care. This approval is extremely crucial for supply security in India considering a global shortage of Tocilizumab. We will be working closely with the Government to ensure equitable distribution,” Dr B Partha Saradhi Reddy, Chairman, Hetero Group said.