<p>India's Hetero Labs Ltd has received regulatory approval to sell its version of anti-viral drug favipiravir to treat COVID-19, the drugmaker said on Wednesday, as coronavirus infections in the world's third worst-hit nation crossed 1.5 million.</p>.<p>The drug, priced at 59 rupees (79 cents) per tablet, is approved to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 and will be available at drug stores from Wednesday, privately held Hetero said in a statement.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-andhra-pradesh-reports-record-8147-cases-karnataka-government-changes-rates-for-rt-pcr-antigen-testing-864013.html" target="_blank"><strong>For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>Favipiravir and another anti-viral treatment, remdesivir, have emerged as the most sought after medicines to treat COVID-19 in India, which had already approved the drugs as emergency treatments to fight the outbreak.</p>.<p>India reported about 48,000 fresh cases on Wednesday. Globally, coronavirus cases have crossed 16.7 million, resulting in more than 659,000 deaths.</p>.<p>Favipiravir was originally developed by Japan's Fujifilm Holdings Corp under the brand name Avigan for treating influenza.</p>.<p>Hetero is also among the drugmakers that have a license with U.S.-based Gilead Sciences Inc to make remdesivir.</p>.<p>Other Indian drugmakers developing or selling favipiravir include Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Cipla Ltd , privately held Brinton Pharma and Jenburkt Pharmaceuticals Ltd.</p>
<p>India's Hetero Labs Ltd has received regulatory approval to sell its version of anti-viral drug favipiravir to treat COVID-19, the drugmaker said on Wednesday, as coronavirus infections in the world's third worst-hit nation crossed 1.5 million.</p>.<p>The drug, priced at 59 rupees (79 cents) per tablet, is approved to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 and will be available at drug stores from Wednesday, privately held Hetero said in a statement.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-andhra-pradesh-reports-record-8147-cases-karnataka-government-changes-rates-for-rt-pcr-antigen-testing-864013.html" target="_blank"><strong>For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>Favipiravir and another anti-viral treatment, remdesivir, have emerged as the most sought after medicines to treat COVID-19 in India, which had already approved the drugs as emergency treatments to fight the outbreak.</p>.<p>India reported about 48,000 fresh cases on Wednesday. Globally, coronavirus cases have crossed 16.7 million, resulting in more than 659,000 deaths.</p>.<p>Favipiravir was originally developed by Japan's Fujifilm Holdings Corp under the brand name Avigan for treating influenza.</p>.<p>Hetero is also among the drugmakers that have a license with U.S.-based Gilead Sciences Inc to make remdesivir.</p>.<p>Other Indian drugmakers developing or selling favipiravir include Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Cipla Ltd , privately held Brinton Pharma and Jenburkt Pharmaceuticals Ltd.</p>