Torrent Pharma to manufacture and sell Pfizer’s Paxlovid generic

Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited (TPL) has announced that it has signed a non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sub licensable, license agreement to use the patents and know-how in relation to the compound nirmatrelvir with Medicine Patent Pool (MPP) for manufacture and commercialisation of the generic version of (Paxlovid (product containing the compound nirmatrelvir (PF-07321332) to be co-packaged and co-administered with ritonavir) in 95 low and middle income countries including India for treatment and/or prevention of Covid-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2.

Earlier, MPP had entered into license agreement with PF Prism Holdings BV (Pfizer) granting MPP the rights to sub-license manufacture and commercialisation rights to sub-licensees.

The oral Covid-19 treatment comprises of nirmatrelvir, which inhibits a SARS-CoV-2 protein to stop the virus from replicating and ritonavir, which slows down nirmatrelvir’s breakdown to help it remain in the body for a longer period at higher concentrations.

TPL will launch the product after obtaining necessary approval from regulatory agencies.

Pfizer markets its oral Covid-19 treatment under the name Paxlovid, which is authorized by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) [for Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA)] and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for the treatment of Covid-19 in patients at high-risk of progressing to serious illness.

Commenting on the arrangement, Aman Mehta (executive director) said, “We are pleased to enter into this agreement with MPP and is part of our continued endeavour to make Covid treatments as accessible as possible to patients.”