Dr Reddy's developing new treatment options for Covid-19, says MD

Hyderabad based Drug major Dr Reddy's Laboratories is currently working on the development of new treatment options for Covid-19 patients. The development aims to launch over the next few months while ensuring uninterrupted supplies of its existing range of products for the infectious disease in the market, according to a top company official.

Dr. Reddy's drug major has also launched Sputnik V vaccine earlier while partnering various organisations, including the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

"We are motivated to serve patients in every possible way and with utmost urgency. This is reflected in the multiple collaborations we have entered to develop and commercialise a wide range of preventive and curative options for COVID treatment, Dr Reddy's Laboratories Co-Chairman and Managing Director G V Prasad said in an analyst call.

Drug major over the past few weeks has increased supply of multiple medicines including Remdesivir to meet the surge in demand, he added.

"We are also working on the launch of newer treatment options, which we will bring to the market in the next few months. We have also ensured that supplies of our existing medicines continue uninterrupted and we continue to meet the market demand for all our markets," Prasad noted.

Speaking about business opportunities arising from the Sputnik V, Dr Reddy's CEO Erez Israeli said: "We have the rights for the first 250 million of doses for India which translates to 125 million patients. And the initial quantities will come from the imported route that will come out of Russia."

So far, the country has recorded over 2.65 crore confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 2,99,266 deaths. A total of 2,34,25,467 people have recuperated from COVID-19 so far. There are 28,05,399 active cases in the country as of date, which comprises 10.57 percent of the total caseload, the data stated. India's recovery rate now stands at 88.3 percent.