Cipla signs licensing deal with Lilly to expand access to COVID-19 treatment in India

Mumbai: Cipla Limited has signed a royalty-free, non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreement with Eli Lilly and Company, USA for the manufacture and commercialization of the drug, baricitinib for Covid-19 indication.

Baricitinib was issued a restricted emergency use approval by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), Ministry of Health, India for use in combination with Remdesivir for the treatment of suspected or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in hospitalized adults requiring supplemental oxygen, invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

As per Cipla, this collaboration is a step further in its efforts to enhance access to critical treatments for patients affected by the pandemic. The company will leverage its extensive distribution footprint to make this therapy accessible to more patients and markets.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Umang Vohra (MD and Global CEO, Cipla Limited) said, “Enabling access to high-quality treatment and medication is core to our purpose of ‘Caring for life.’ Through the pandemic, Cipla has been at the forefront of COVID care and our partnership with Lilly is a demonstration of our unwavering commitment to care towards patients impacted by COVID-19.”