Cadila Healthcare at the forefront, looks at biologic drug to treat Covid

Company is already working on developing 2 vaccine candidates, diagnostic kits and also making HCQ

Ahmedabad-based pharmaceutical major Cadila Healthcare has emerged at the forefront of India’s battle to fight the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). After announcing research on two vaccine candidates, work on developing rapid diagnostic kits and ramping up production of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), the company is now exploring the use of a biologic drug Interferon alfa-2b to treat Covid-19.
 

Recent studies have shown evidence of a direct antiviral effect of Interferon alfa-2b against the new coronavirus. Cadila Healthcare (Zydus Cadila) has been commercially making Pegylated Interferon alfa-2b under the brand name Pegihep since 2011 for the treatment of Hepatitis B and C, with 150,000