Strides, UCL partner with (MPP) to commercialise molnupiravir in global markets

Hyderabad Strides Pharma Science Limited, a global pharmaceutical company, has announced its partnership with Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) to commercialise molnupiravir in the international markets.

Strides and its subsidiary, Universal Corporation Limited (UCL) (Kenya), have entered into a voluntary partnership with MPP covering 105 countries to enable a global reach for molnupiravir. Strides and UCL will manufacture the product at their WHO PQ facilities in India and Nairobi. UCL owns and operates one of the two WHO PQ facilities in the sub-Saharan region.

In December 2021, Strides received Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) from the DCGI to launch molnupiravir 200mg in India under the brand name Stripiravir. Besides the 200mg strength, Strides has also developed and manufactured molnupiravir in 400mg, which significantly benefits the patients by reducing the pill burden and ensuring better compliance.

R Ananthanarayanan, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Strides Pharma Science Limited said, "We are pleased to partner with MPP for providing global accessibility of the generic molnupiravir both from India and Kenya. While our 200mg strength tablet has been launched in India under our brand Stripiravir, this partnership will enable us to commercialise the 400mg tablet along with 200mg one for global markets, extending considerable patient benefits with higher compliance and better administration."

Molnupiravir is an orally administered form of a potent ribonucleoside analog that inhibits the replication of SARS‐CoV‐2, and clinical studies have shown this drug to be active against the most common Covid‐19 variants. The drug has been granted approval by the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as a safe and effective medication for patients with mild to moderate cases of Covid‐19. The drugs also recently received the USFDA's Emergency Use Authorisation.