Dr Reddy’s and Zuventus get clearances to use repurposed medicines for covid-19 trials

Many pharma firms perform clinical trials for vaccines but only few make it to the final launch stage. Generally, the safety and efficacy data need to be properly documented and sent to concerned authorities to get approvals.

Of late couple of pharma companies— Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL) and Mumbai’s Zuventus Healthcare got clearances from subject expert committee (SEC) to use repurposed medicines for Covid-19 trials.

Repurposed drugs are those that have a predominant medical use for a particular ailment. Owing to the multipurpose properties of the active ingredient of the drug, they are repurposed for other uses.

Zuventus and Hyderabad’s DRL have got the green signal to continue Phase 3 clinical trials of Aviptadil injectable formulation. Aviptadil — a vasoactive intestinal polypeptide used to cure erectile dysfunction — has been identified to be beneficial in treating respiratory distress in Covid-19 patients.

NeuroRx and Relief Therapeutics have collaborated to develop a drug called RLF-100 that possess anti-inflammatory and anti-cytokine activity properties. They recently announced that Independent Monitoring Committee (DMC) voted to resume the phase 3 trial of the aforementioned drug for treating respiratory illness in covid-19 patients.

Additionally, SEC hinted that Zuventus had shown revised Phase 3 clinical trial protocol to the committee, and it recommended grant of f Phase 3 trials with the drug, “subject to condition that criteria for discharge of patients from intensive care unit should be clearly briefed in the protocol”.