Glenmark Pharmaceuticals on Saturday launched antiviral drug Favipiravir for treatment of mild-to-moderate Covid-19 cases after it received the Indian drug regulator''s approval. It will be available under the brand name FabiFlu as a prescription-based medication for Rs 103 per tablet, with recommended dose of 1,800 mg twice a day on day 1 and 800 mg twice a day up to 14th day, according to the Mumbai-headquartered global pharmaceutical company. Glenmark received the approval for manufacturing and marketing Favipiravir from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Friday.

"The approval has come at a time when cases in India are spiralling, putting tremendous pressure on our healthcare system," Glenn Saldanha, Chairman and Managing Director of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, said in a statement. "We hope the availability of an effective treatment, such as FabiFlu, will help assuage this pressure considerably and offer patients in India a much-needed and timely therapy option," Saldanha said. Favipiravir is backed by strong clinical evidence, showing encouraging results in patients with mild to moderate Covid-19. It offers broad spectrum RNA virus coverage with clinical improvement noted in 20-90 plus age group.