New potential COVID-19 drug a boon for India's pharmas

It could help address issues such as shortage of ventilators.

The drug firms’ cheer for dexamethasone’s efficacy in severe COVID-19 patients could open a potential opportunity for Indian pharma companies with its cost-effectiveness and easy accessibility, according to a report from GlobalData.

The drug may possibly address issues such as shortages of ventilators for critically ill patients, as patients with oxygen support when treated with dexamethasone might not progress to ventilator support, explained GlobalData’s pharma analyst Nag Madhavi.

“However, the inclusion of the drug in the treatment protocol by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will be dependent on the full published data of trial results, which would indicate the co-morbidities of the patients as well,” Madhavi said.

Further, dexamethasone is a widely available generic drug in India, and is priced at less than $0.04 (INR3) per strip of 10 tablets and included under drug price control in India.

“Notably, to meet the possible increased domestic demand of the drug, the companies have enough capacity and the Indian pharma companies can even cater to the increased export demand of the drug. Reportedly, Indian companies export dexamethasone to more than 100 countries, with the US being the largest importer,” Madhavi added.

Dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid, is used for the treatment of various diseases, such as inflammatory diseases, certain autoimmune diseases, skin conditions, asthma, lung conditions, and allergic reactions.

However, recently published results revealed that dexamethasone could be a potential breakthrough therapy for COVID-19. The preliminary data from a trial conducted in the UK demonstrated that it is effective in reducing the mortality rates in hospitalised COVID-19 patients, who either require oxygen or mechanical ventilation.