Mankind Pharma partners with South Korea's Daewoong for Covid drug

Will conduct clincial trials on anti-parasitic drug they claim is more effective than remdesivir

Delhi-based Mankind Pharma and South Korea's Daewoong Pharmaceutical company have joined hands to conduct clinical trials of anti-parasitic drug niclosamide for Covid-19. 

Daewoong's Indian subsidiary will join hands with Mankind for phase-1 trials of this drug after they feel there is encouraging pre-clinical evidence from treatment of Covid-19. Pre-clinical studies are conducted on animals. 

"Niclosamide is already in clinical use as an anthelmintic; however, the current formulation is expected to be a longer acting variant for this alternate clinical indication. It is also expected to circumvent the downside of oral administration," a statement said. Anthelmintics are a group of anti-parasitic drugs that